Torque
Jim Pickering
leaders in terms of gross sales and dollar
totals. This year’s results set a new sales
record — $308m for 760 cars sold out of
1,229 offered at Bonhams, RM Auctions,
Gooding & Company, Russo and Steele, and
Mecum Auctions.
The biggest news of the week was the
Steady as she goes
T
he results from this year’s August
auctions are in the books. And the
numbers are big. Really big.
The annual Monterey auctions
continue to be the summer market
$27.5m sale of a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S
NART Spyder at RM in downtown Monterey.
While not an American car, it was one of 10
built and was offered by the family of the
original owner, with all the proceeds going to
charity. Seventy-one cars sold in the milliondollar
range. Average prices were up, too,
from $338k last year to $405k this year.
And that’s not all. Other headlining auc-
tions in August included Auctions America’s
Burbank sale, which totaled $17.3m for 326
of 403 cars (see our report on this sale on
p. 66). And then there’s Barrett-Jackson’s
Hot August Nights auction, which breezed
to $14.2m for 343 cars sold — a solid result
for an all-new event (covered on p. 76).
B&T’s Reno sale made $427k for 129 cars
that same week (select cars appear starting
on p. 100). Wrapping things up were
Auctions America’s $5.6m Auburn sale and
Worldwide Auctioneers’ $544k Auburn sale,
which sold 544 cars and 67 cars, respectively
(both of these auctions will appear in the
next ACC).
All these sales together totaled over
$346m for 2,169 cars. For a little perspective,
that averages out to $7,750 a minute,
24 hours a day, for all 31 days in August.
Staying grounded
Last year, hot on the heels of 2012’s
record-breaking $258m Monterey results,
I wrote a column all about what big sales
numbers — such as an $11m Mercedes-Benz
or $9m Ferrari — mean to the world of $20k
Chevelles, Mustangs, and vintage trucks.
Fundamentally, I don’t think much has
changed over the past 12 months. The hope
of big sale prices is still bringing ultra-
12 AmericanCarCollector.com
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 at RM Monterey
expensive cars to market. The presence of
those cars at auction turns heads and ramps
up market confidence, and that can bump up
the bottom line across the board — even on
something like a $15k Nova.
But the big sellers, such as that $27.5m
Ferrari, are getting all the news, and it seems
like more and more people are wondering
whether this continued growth is a sustainable
trend. It’s something I heard quite a few
people talk about in Monterey and also in
Reno during Hot August Nights. The high
end of the market seems to be setting new
records every year. That, combined with
memories of the boom times that led to the
crash of ’08, has a lot of car people scratching
their heads. Should they buy a ’Cuda?
Sell their Mustang? What’s going to happen
in six months? What about next year?
I can’t tell you how long the top of the
market will continue to grow. But here’s an
important note: While Monterey numbers
were up $50m from last year’s $258m, if
you remove all the individual million-dollar
cars from this year’s results and last year’s
results, you get a different picture. The totals
this year were only up $3.4m over last year
— $94.9m in 2013 vs. $91.5m in 2012. The
average price for these cars was up about
$10k over last year.
Although that’s not the crazy increase
some might have hoped for, it’s actually a
pretty good thing. Away from the glitz and
glamour of six-figure newsmakers, at the
lower levels of the atmosphere where the
majority of American-car buyers live, things
are growing at a moderate pace. Cars valued
from $20k to $200k are seeing the benefit of
a healthy market while not being subjected
to growth trends that don’t always make a
whole lot of sense.
In general, what I see here is stability,
and that’s a good place to be regardless of
which side of the car deal you’re on.
Time to buy — and sell
In response to this growth, more auctions
are popping up across the country. And
these venues are bringing in good cars, too.
If you’ve got money to spend, the cars are
there. If you’ve got cars to move, the buyers
are interested.
I don’t think we’re in for any imminent
market crash. In fact, I think we’ll see continued
average growth at a fairly solid rate.
But if you’re still worried about it, here’s a
piece of advice you should always follow:
Only buy cars that you’re really interested in
owning. Take your time and be sure to look
them over prior to bidding, and decide on
your top price before you even think about
raising your hand at auction.
The market is a pretty fluid and unpre-
dictable place. But if you’ve bought a good
car you really love having in your garage for
a price you can afford, you’ve invested in
your own happiness. It’s pretty hard to call
that bad value for money. A
AUGUST’S SALES SET NEW ALL-TIME-HIGH SALE RECORDS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE REST OF US?
Dave Tomaro

Page 12

WHAT’SHAPPENING
Al Rogers
Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals
Nickey Chicago, Plymouth Road Runners and muscle cars from 1963 and 1973 will star at
Strange-but-true tales…
ACC writers, including Dale Novak
and Colin Comer, share tales of car weirdness
in Strange But True Tales of Car
Collecting, a new book from Motorbooks
and our sister magazine, Sports Car
Market. There are 36 stories of barn-finds,
cars that came back from the dead, and just
plain old weirdness. Novak writes about
the brand-new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere
that was placed in an underground vault
in Tulsa, OK, for 50 years, while Comer
explores the weird life of a wrecked,
burned 289 Shelby Cobra that was brought
back to life. This is a great holiday gift
for any car addict. Copies signed by ACC
Publisher Keith Martin are $28 at www.
americancarcollector.com.
Zephyrhills Fall AutoFest
Most of the car-collecting world is
under a blanket of clouds — or even snow
— right now, but Florida rocks sunshine
and summer all year long. So why not
head to Carlisle Events’ Zephyrhills Fall
AutoFest north of Tampa, FL. Crowds
of American-car addicts will gather at
Festival Park on November 14–17 for a
huge swapmeet, auction, private sales corral
and other events. More than 500 cars —
and shirtsleeve weather — are expected.
Adult admission is $8 on Thursday, $10
on Friday and Saturday and $5 on Sunday.
www.carsatcarlisle.com
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
this year’s Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals on November 23–24 at the Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center in Chicago, IL. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 23 and 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on November 24. This is the fifth year of this massive, popular event, which brings
hundreds of Corvettes and muscle cars — and thousands of gearheads — to a happy whirl
of a swapmeet, seminars and displays. The ever-popular Shelby Snakepit, Baldwin-Motion
Madness and Corvette Triple Diamond Competition events are on the schedule. Mecum
Auctions is the title sponsor, and admission is $25 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are admitted
for free. More information and discount tickets are available at www.mcacn.com.
Automobilia comes to Scottsdale
Collectors of old oil cans, neon signs, gas pumps and other cool old things have a new stop
at the Arizona Auctions in January 2014. Automobilia Scottsdale — the desert version of
the very popular Automobilia Monterey — is setting up shop in the Radisson Hotel in Fort
McDowell on January 16–17. This is the same location as the popular Silver Auction. For more
information, visit www.automobiliascottsdale.com.
Beaches caps off successful season
On every Wednesday evening
throughout the summer, the Beaches
Summertime Cruisin’ brings
hundreds of vintage cars — including
many hot rods, muscle cars,
customs and classics — to Portland
International Raceway.
The Cruisin’ is a fun night for
all, and many gearheads fire up their
cars and head to the grassy parking
area near the PIR Drag Strip almost
every Wednesday from June through
September. This summer tradition,
which started in 1996, closed out 2013
on September 25. In total, the event has raised more than $1.5 million for local charities, and
they’re forecasting $2 million by 2016. For more infomation, visit www.beachesrestaurantandbar.com.A

Page 14

CROSSINGTHE
Upcoming auctions
BLOCK
by Tony Piff
1965 Plymouth Belvedere with NASCAR internals, offered at RKM Charlotte
NoVeMBeR
Collector Car Productions — Toronto Classic Car
Auction
Where: Toronto, ON, CAN
When: November 1–3
More: www.collectorcarproductions.com
Last year: 200/337 cars sold / $3.7m
Vicari — Classic & Muscle Car Auction
Where: Panama City, FL
When: November 8–9
More: www.vicariauction.com
The featured consignments at this annual auction are a realdeal
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 convertible with matching
numbers; a 1951 Hudson Pacemaker convertible with rebuilt “Twin
H” motor; a supercharged 1957 Ford Thunderbird in pink; a 1956
Ford Crown Victoria; a 1971 Pontiac Trans Am; a Canadian-born
1953 Mercury M100 pickup; a rotisserie-restored 1969 Chevrolet
COPO Camaro, with one owner for the past 31 years, offered at
no reserve; and a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 SC — described as
“the only true factory CSX4000-series aluminum-bodied original in
Canada.”
RKM Collector Car Auction
Where: Charlotte, NC
When: November 1–3
More: www.rkmcca.com
Vicari will have more than 250 cars at their November auction.
The sale takes place as part of the “Emerald Coast Cruizin — The
South’s Best Blast from the Past Family Fun Event.” The week includes
plenty of non-auction festivities as well, such as vendors, a
huge swapmeet, a crafts and jewelry section and a kids’ area with
rides and games.
RM in Association with Sotheby’s — Art of the
Automobile
Where: Manhattan, NY
When: November 21
More: www.rmauctions.com
This sale will showcase premium American muscle, storied race
cars and serious customs. The star cars are a 1969 Dodge Daytona;
a Pro Street 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle; a supercharged 1941
Willys coupe; a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere with NASCAR internals,
built by NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham; and “The Innovator,” a
1967 Chevrolet Nova named 2011 Goodguys Street Machine of the
Year. They’ll also offer a 2012 Local Motors Rally Fighter.
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 at CCP Toronto

Page 16

CROSSINGTHEBLOCK
NEXT ISSUE: ACC’s exclusive
coverage of this historic auction
1955 Lincoln Indianapolis exclusive Study at RM Manhattan
This sale, held at Sotheby’s downtown Manhattan sales room,
will celebrate the motor car and its place in the history of design.
The carefully selected assortment of important automobiles from
around the globe includes a 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive
Study, a 1957 Dual-Ghia convertible and a 1933 Auburn Twelve
Custom Speedster.
McCormick — 55th Palm Springs Classic Car Auction
Where: Palm Springs, CA
When: November 22–24
More: www.classic-carauction.com
Last year: 358/557 cars sold / $6.1m
There’s always a strong variety of American classics at this
twice-annual sale, held at The Spa Resort Casino. Among the
featured early consignments are a 1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe
coupe, a 1947 Chevy 3100 Deluxe 5-window pickup and a 1957
Pontiac Safari station wagon. This will be McCormick’s 55th Palm
Springs auction.
Mecum — Anaheim 2013
Where: Anaheim, CA
When: November 21–23
More: www.mecum.com
Last year: 418/836 cars sold / $15m
Midwest dealership yields
time-capsule treasures
VanDerBrink Auctions — The Lambrecht
Chevrolet Dealership Auction
Where: Pierce, NE
When: September 28
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
ACC staffers are headed to small-town Nebraska for a
once-in-a-lifetime event: the Lambrecht Chevrolet Dealership
auction. Nebraska Chevy dealer Ray P. Lambrecht’s lifetime
hoard of 500 cars includes 50 still on MSO and showing fewer
than 10 miles.
It’s perhaps the largest collection of time-capsule cars
ever, which instantly attracted the attention of the mainstream
media — even though many of the cars have been rotting into
the earth for decades.
With all of the hype, will we see record prices or record
disappointment? The next issue of ACC will feature exclusive
in-depth coverage from our on-site team. Stay tuned!
Sales totaled $15m at Mecum’s debut Anaheim auction in 2012.
This time around, American muscle takes center stage yet again.
The heavy hitters include a 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro with
just 21k original miles, still retaining original engine, transmission
and rear end; and a Govier-documented 1970 Plymouth Superbird
with 440-ci 390-hp 6-barrel V8, previously rated a 2+ by ACC
Publisher Keith Martin when the car was featured on TV’s “What’s
My Car Worth?”
1958 Chevrolet Apache 31 Series
pickup, 5 miles
1964 Chevrolet Impala with 327 V8,
4 miles
1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza,
17 miles
1965 Chevrolet Impala with 396 V8,
12 miles
1963 Chevrolet Impala with 327 V8,
11 miles
1951 Chevy Styleline DeLuxe at McCormick Palm Springs
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
1975 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 4-door
hard top, 7 miles

GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
Going back through your old high school yearbook is both comforting and frightening, and
The Art of the Muscle Car: Collector’s Edition by David Newhardt,
photography by Peter Harholdt, Motorbooks, 240 pages, $41.32, Amazon
those feelings are heightened as the years and reunions roll by. Sure there were ugly ducklings that
turned into swans, but there were also a lot of folks who peaked at graduation.
The muscle-car era was much the same, with a few swans,
but lots of cars that were only impressive in their own specific
time. The years go by and our high school selves learn about
taste — a good pinot rather than another can of Bud, oxford
cloth instead of T-shirts — and we come to the conclusion the
Superbird is just nutty.
That’s what going through The Art of the Muscle Car is like.
It’s primarily a photographic time machine that will take you on an
emotional journey through a significant portion of important cars
from the late ’60s. They might even be more significant if you were
there the first time.
In an enhanced second edition of the 2009 printing, with added
mages, writer David Newhardt and photographer Peter Harholdt
led by a nifty foreward by Brock Yates) take you through the crazy
period of horsepower stuffed into modest sedan packages.
As you turn the pages, through the Innocent Years (1964–68),
the Excessive Years (1969–70) and the Declining Years (1971–74), it’s like late-night memories of
lost loves. There is the Boss 302 my college friend Lance drove, there’s the Mercury Cyclone my
mother drove when the big Mercury station wagon got tired, there’s the Challenger I borrowed
from my Missouri roommate, and the Firebird my neighbor drove. (Ohmigod, I just realized my
Mom drove a Cyclone!)
It’s page after page of beautiful images of cars that ran the gamut from frighteningly utilitarian
sedans stuffed with big iron to lovely, almost sports cars stuffed with big iron.
And let’s not forget that’s what it was all about: muscle. Not turning, stopping or anything but
grunt. Those were the days.
PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson
New products to modernize your street machine
Liquid Performance
The experts at Liquid Performance want to make sure your cars
stay in top shape. This includes keeping your track-day beast running
at the right temperature regardless of weather conditions.
Their coolant is a propylene-glycol base. They then add their
proprietary LP3 additives. What
results is some of the best coolant/
antifreeze available for your race
car: boiling-point protection up to
260ºF and freezing-point protection
down to minus-30ºF.
This coolant is pre-mixed
— for those of you who’d rather
just buy standard-strength green
stuff and make your own 50/50
mix with the garden hose, note
that the water mixed in here is
de-ionized. That means greater
protection against corrosion and
degradation for your engine.
Visit www.summitracing.
com and search LQP Racing,
or call Summit directly at
800.230.3030 for more details.
24 AmericanCarCollector.com
eddie Motorsports Ford Small-Block S.drive
Serpentine Pulley Systems
Serpentine belt systems knock V-belts out of their pulleys in terms
of performance and style.
No belt slipping, easy
adjustability, and it’s
shiny? Sign me up.
Early this year, Eddie
Motorsports released
their S.drive Serpentine
Pulley Systems for smallblock
Fords following the
success of their Chevy serpentine
systems. What you get
includes a Ford Racing water pump,
Sanden a/c compressor, Maval powersteering
pump and Powermaster 105-amp alternator. The five different
billet-part finishes let you match the theme of your engine bay.
The caveat to this package of awesome? You’ll need to wire and
run an electric fuel pump, as there is no provision for a mechanical
fuel pump in the front cover. But you were planning on doing that
anyway, right?
Kits start at $2,250. Call 888.813.1293, or visit www.eddie
motorsports.com to pick out your system. A
Lineage:
A couple of old hands from
the motorsports magazine world,
Newhardt and Harholdt do a lovely
job of surveying the cream of muscle
cars.
Fit and finish:
Beautiful images and a crisp
design work well together.
Drivability:
While it’s a repackaging of an
earlier edition, the bonus fold-outs
and lovely loose prints make it a
good choice if you don’t have the
first. The text is nicely written, but
the technical details are skimpy.
Think of it as the equivalent of that
old high school yearbook: It’s not
a detailed guide you might use to
recapture your youth, but it might get
you thinking about scoring a lovely
Boss 302 at auction.
is best

Page 24

COOLSTUFF
Compact c
Phone, knives,
Repro documentation
fills in the blanks
So the restoration is complete and your
Corvette looks showroom-new. What about
the paperwork in the glovebox? These
Corvette owner’s manuals are exact reprints
of the real thing for 1953–80; 1981–2012 is
new from GM. $9.99 to $99.99 from www.
mamotorworks.com
Watch-pocket knife
Small enough to hide under a credit card
or in your watch pocket, but just chunky
enough for comfortable
one-handed opening, the
Boker Nano manages to
be imposing without implying
imminent violence.
When closing the blade,
only the unsharpened “tang
comes near your thumb, for
safe, stress-free closing. Th
orange Zytel handle is a Bla
exclusive. 4.75 inches long o
from www.bladehq.com
numbered pieces.
O
tr
OOLSTUFF
Compact c
Phone, knives,
Repro documentation
fills in the blanks
So the restoration is complete and your
Corvette looks showroom-new. What about
the paperwork in the glovebox? These
Corvette owner’s manuals are exact reprints
of the real thing for 1953–80; 1981–2012 is
new from GM. $9.99 to $99.99 from www.
mamotorworks.com
Watch-pocket knife
Small enough to hide under a credit card
or in your watch pocket, but just chunky
enough for comfortable
one-handed opening, the
Boker Nano manages to
be imposing without im-
plying imminent violence.
When closing the blade,
only the unsharpened “tang
comes near your thumb, for
safe, stress-free closing. Th
orange Zytel handle is a Bla
exclusive. 4.75 inches long o
from www.bladehq.com
numbered pieces.
O
tr
w
w
to
w
com
tools, pens, journa
flashlights… Wher
to keep it all? Skin
makes an assortme
of “skinny sheath”
pouches designed t
handle all manner o
“everyday carry” i
Construction is bu
letproof, yet bulk-free. The
OG ($35) is an excellent, smallish introduction
to the Skinth lineup, but if you’re like
me, as your collection of gadgets grows, so
will your collection of Skinths. Handmade
in Canada. www.skinthsolutions.com
by Tony Piff
Soft sockets
The plastic sleeves and inserts on these
deep-well sockets minimize the chance of
metal-on-metal contact while removing the
lug nuts from your dazzlingly perfect rims.
A set of six is $40.99 from www.summitracing.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 Ford Mustang gT fastback
The Danbury Mint has produced a vast amount
of great models over the years; sadly, I must report
that this Mustang was their last. Almost any model
from DM is worth having, especially this, their last
limited edition. Several years ago, DM produced
a similar version in turquoise. This recent and last
edition is already sold out, but you can find them
occasionally on eBay.
The black beauty is packed with great detailing and a wealth of working features. There is even a
hinged panel inside the trunk leading to the interior, which boasts a double-hinged flat-folding rear
seat. You also get the complete GT and Pony interior with center console-mounted 4-speed, and a
comprehensively detailed engine bay with a terrific fully plumbed and wired 289 V8.
Chassis is fully detailed as well. The only negative goes to the upside-down mounted exterior door
handles. So much for “Crafted in China.”
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
Detailing
Scale: 1:24
Available colors: Black
Quantity: 1,965
Price: $200 to $350
Production date: 2013
Ratings
Detailing:
Accuracy:
Overall quality:
Overall value:
is best
½

Page 26

YOUR TURN
Tell us what’s on your mind
Zee details
ACC Gang:
Great mag! I am a charter subscriber
to this and the previous Corvette Market
magazine.
However, a couple of points to ponder, all
in regards to the July-August 2013 issue:
The article on the 1990 ZR-1, by Michael
Pierce (p. 42), was very good, but I have
a few nits to pick. The ZR-1 was rather
special, but the really special parts were in
the engine and the bodywork. The car came
equipped one way: loaded, and from there
you could select color and transmission
(as long as a 6-speed manual is what you
wanted). The ZF-made 6-speed transmission
was nearly identical to the base car. The only
difference was the input shaft. Otherwise,
the boxes are identical, right down to
their ridiculously high 0.50:1 6th gear.
Additionally, all options available on the
ZR-1 were available on lesser Corvettes.
In 1991, all Corvettes got the same 1990
taillight treatment, so that identifier was lost.
The brakes are noted as being 11.5-inch
units. They’re actually 13-inch units. And
the discs are about 1.25 inches thick. These
things are massive compared with the standard
12-inch rotors. The ZR-1 caliper was a
bit stiffer than the stock J55 caliper, and the
later Grand Sport caliper was thicker/stiffer
still. The real problem is that these calipers
don’t have heat vents, and the top of the
caliper, under extreme use, can get soft and
splay out. I call this bad. My 1992 LT1 coupe
has the Grand Sport upgrades, but the real
improvement came from using the Hawk HP
Plus pads… those things defy gravity.
A thought or two for John L. Stein, in
regards to his article “Real vs. Repro” (p.
40): One thing that has conspired against me
(and I am not alone) is the absolute horrid
quality of replacement parts. Even parts from
the manufacturer are junk. Case in point, I
go through a coolant temperature sensor (the
one that feeds the ECM temperature data,
Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
1990 Corvette ZR-1
so it’s important!) about once every 15–18
months. AC Delco, parts from the various car
parts shops, all varying degrees of junk. The
Delco seems the best of a pretty bad lot, most
of which are cheap junk-store-brand sensors
that come from the factory dead. New GM
courtesy light switches (the light switch in the
door) are arriving from GM brand new, dead.
The ’92-96 Corvette is saddled with a crappy
thing called Optispark. From my estimates,
no one is using the OEM Mitsubishi optics
anymore, and we, the consumers, are paying
for it.
Several years ago, there was a run on bad
hydraulic clutch slaves. One friend replaced
his about once every three weeks. The GM
dealer was sure he was screwing up the
install — until someone found out that the
factory making the slaves was installing a
rubber seal BACKWARDS!
Keep up the great work!
— Andy Bogus, owner,
www.corvetteguru.com, San Pedro, CA
Michael Pierce responds: Thanks for
correcting the rotor size issue on the firstgen
ZR-1 profile. For a factory car designed
to be able to go almost 200 mph, it has to
have a great set of brakes that will stop the
car at speed before you reach the next ZIP
code. Appreciate the tip on those Hawk
pads, too.
John Stein responds: Excellent point
about repro parts. I have noticed this
phenomenon in electronics of all descriptions,
not just automotive. Even the trusted
blue-chip companies sell what appear to be
the cheapest possible products in beautiful
packaging. And you can’t opt in for a
premium grade because it doesn’t exist. In
the story, John Jaeger noted that you have
to do a lot of research and be careful what
you choose. The quality issue you’re running
into here is surely part and parcel of that
vigilance.
The first of its kind?
In response to the recent article about
“Mr. Norm’s street machine,” the 1972
Dodge Demon GSS (September-October
2013, p. 48): The article claims that the
Demon GSS was “the first of its kind” and
makes the assertion that current cars like
the ZR1 Corvette, the ZL1 Camaro, or the
Shelby GT500 are “modern interpretations”
of the supercharged 1972 Demon GSS.
Although this car was in a sense unique,
long before its production became a reality,
supercharged examples of the Shelby
GT350 had come and gone, with nearly 40
documented examples of a car that had no
real rival (at least 11 produced in 1966, 28
in 1967). The option for a dealer-installed
Paxton blower was available until 1969, so
there are probably more of them out there.
Motor Trend magazine, in their August
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
1972 Dodge Demon gSS
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
1966 issue, road-tested a supercharged
1966 GT350 and had much praise for it.
With a horsepower rating around 400–410
and with an automatic transmission, it ran a
14.0 ET at 102 mph in the quarter mile. That
ET is truly impressive when considering that
MT had two occupants and equipment in the
car during testing. It’s easy to see that with a
250-lb. weight loss and a 4-speed, you have
a car running close to mid-13s; not bad for a
factory small block in 1966.
— Mark DellAcqua, Millersville, MDA

Page 28

INSIDER’S VIEW
Patina: Fad or lasting trend?
Crowd-sourcing an answer to your queries
To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter.
The ACC question: Patina is defined as “a
surface appearance of something grown beautiful,
especially with age or use.”
Twenty years ago, the idea of originality wasn’t as
popular as it is today — a lot of car builders wanted
the shiniest, glossiest candy-like paint jobs they could
afford.
But as old cars were restored and repainted in the
popular colors of the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, the number
of untouched originals shrank, and that’s helped
boost the cool factor of cars and trucks that show
some age scars today. Some people are even using
sandpaper on new paint jobs in an attempt to make
them look old.
In 10 years, will people look back at cars and
trucks with real patina and groan, or will evidence of
the passage of time still be cool? Will the fake-patina cars, made to look old, ruin enthusiasm for the real ones? Will weathered original paint go
the way of the ’70s heavy metal-flake jobs, ’80s side graphics, or ’90s billet wheels?
This fine example of extreme patina was featured in ACC issue #2
Readers respond:
Dwayne Bublitz, Corvette’N America Road Tours, Flagstaff,
AZ, via email: I am bored with shiny over-restored classic cars. It’s
high time the hobby recognizes the importance of the original piece.
Would you rather have plastic flowers in your front yard or the real
deal? My garage is slowly changing from restored to original classics.
Doug Bean, via ACC Blog: There are plenty of shoddy examples
of fauxtina out there. But, I’ve seen a (very) few fauxtina finishes that
were pure artistry. I’d humbly offer that a fauxtina finish (well done)
has just as much a legitimate place in our hobby as any other custom
finish.
98jagman, via ACC Blog: To me, patina
is a sign of age, wear and tear. No longer new
in appearance, and therefore less desirable. I
prefer restored.
Primus, via ACC Blog: There is patina
Lance Weathersby, via email: I grew up in the ’50s and ’60s and
and then there is patina. Hard to describe
good versus bad, aside from, “I know the
good patina when I see it.” I have a friend
who owns a 1930s Lincoln that is unrestored and should never be
restored. It has good patina. And then there is the 1930s Ford that was
pulled out of a barn where it sat for 30-plus years and the birds had
their way with it. That one has bad patina. Easy to tell them apart.
Howie Poulter, via ACC Blog: Vehicles showing age are a fad
which has been prompted by hobbyists who are also showing their age,
or patina perhaps, and want their toys to also reflect their current state.
While I too am showing age, I still prefer my vehicles to be shiny! I like
to remember them as fresh and new, rather than ancient and well-used.
RetroRick, via ACC Blog: Patina is a style, not a fad. Think of it
like faded, well-worn jeans with holes in the knees. I think it’ll be with
us a long time and I’m happy about it. Patina cars, like rat rods, are
enjoyed most by younger car guys, and these guys like to drive them
too. Anything that attracts and keeps guys under 70 interested in old
cars is a good thing.
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
“Vehicles showing
age are a fad which
has been prompted by
hobbyists who are also
showing their age”
built my own street cars and drag cars. One of the first items embedded
on our brains at the time was “class and flash.” From paint to interior,
engine compartment, wheels and tires, and so on. The first thing we did
when we purchased that “beater” was to class it up and flash it up. My
idea of today’s “patina” is that basically you are taking a car that was
beautiful when it rolled off that assembly line, but with time and age its
class and flash have faded away. I just can’t truly appreciate the rusted
and derelict look of a beautiful machine that once had so much class
and flash. I think that as the new generation of
hot-rodders stop and look at the history of their
new rides, patina will fade and class and flash
will return.
Mike Flaten, Wayzata, MN, via email:
Patina is a fad except for those original cars in
excellent unrestored condition. An old piece of
junk is still an old piece of junk. On the other
hand, if a car is original and in extremely good
condition, that is a different story. Today even
owners of “barn finds” are concerned about knocking off the dust for
fear that will lose value. Is that ridiculous or what?
Bill Hahn & Paul Vorbach, Hahn and Woodward Auto
Restoration, Harmony, PA, via email: While we don’t think true patina
will ever go out of style (so long as restoration costs remain high),
we do think the “fauxtina” side of things is more of a fad. We know of
a couple of vehicles with true patina where the owner felt compelled to
add some fauxtina lettering, which really wasn’t necessary. That is not
to say certain projects don’t lend themselves to a fauxtina treatment,
but as an overall trend, we think it will fade — pun intended.
John Trimarco, via email: If a car or truck looks like it has
original paint, like my 18,000-mile Shelby GT350 with factory drips,
leave it alone. But if there’s only 30% of the paint left with rust and
primer, what are you trying to save? Paint the car and bring it back to
the original beauty!

Page 29

Andy Bogus, via email: I doubt it’s a fad. It’s been a growing trend
since the entire “survivor” thing started a few years back. Real patina
only comes with time, and in the world of many antiques, they prefer that
mark of time. Now, if we are restoring a bad repaint, by all means. Redo
it and redo it right. But for the gentle patina of time, I think that will stay
popular for a long time to come, simply because the number of cars that
are still that original and that clean are dwindling by the day.
John Boyle, Colbert, WA, via email: In the past some nice service-
able (but old) original paint and interiors were replaced just to make a
car look new, or better than new. Painted wire wheels were chromed,
pinstripes were added where no factory ever put them. Yes, Pebble Beach
(and other mega-buck concours) entrants, I’m referring to you. Now (as in
many things), our reaction is over-reaction. The market is favoring autos
that are in poor condition. Collectors are showing off shot paint, flaking
chrome and interiors that were recently home to who-knows-what. I don’t
mind old paint that has a few rock chips or even a bit of primer. But there
has to be a happy medium. If the interior is so bad you have to cover it
with a horse blanket, I hate to break it to you, but it’s gone. Time to call
the undertaker and the upholstery shop. The only thing worse than these
patina guys are the sellers who expect to double their money because the
car is in such bad shape. Sometimes they are dealers trying to make a
quick buck, but other times they are collectors who should know better, or
non-hobby people trying to maximize their return on a heap that dad —
or granddad — simply never got around to restoring.
Mike, via ACC Blog: Anyone can have a shiny paint job, but only
Mother Nature can create patina. I know that there are people trying to
duplicate weathering, but they are usually pretty obvious. To find a 30-,
40- or 50-year-old car that still wears its original finish is really getting
difficult. They are like a needle in the haystack. It’s always a treat to find
a car that hasn’t been slathered with a Maaco paint job. If they haven’t
been crashed or rusted out, leave them alone. Definitely not a fad, but an
appreciation of imperfection. A
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November-December 2013 31

Page 30

FEATUREHOT AUGUST NIGHTS
Jim Pickering
“energizer” — a chopped ’41 Willys pickup
A SURE BET
for car guys
Jim Pickering
1971 Plymouth gTX
HOT AUGUST NIGHTS TOOK OVER
RENO; ACC CAUGHT THE ACTION
by Jim Pickering
A
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger hot rod
Chad Tyson
Chad Tyson
1951 Mercury custom
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
ugust is the best month of the year to be a car guy.
Summer’s in full swing, so the weather’s good, and
there are events all over the country celebrating
everything from hot rods to vintage military vehicles. If
you’ve got gas money and some free time, all you need
to do is pick a direction, pack up your car and go.
For a lot of car people, Reno is that destination every August. This
year, more than 10,000 cars and even more people showed up for the
annual Hot August Nights festivities, spread out over the entire Reno/
Sparks area. This year I made the trip, too, joined by ACC Associate
Editor Chad Tyson and Ad Sales Exec Steve Kittrell.
Hot August Nights got its start in 1986 as a summer concert at the
Reno-Sparks Convention Center featuring the Righteous Brothers,
Wolfman Jack, and Jan and Dean. More than 10,000 people attended
that first event, and as a testament to the power of ’50s and ’60s
nostalgia and American car culture, it has grown ever since.
Now the entire Reno-Sparks area gets taken over by classic, custom
and restored cars from all over the country for those eight days. Hot
August Nights has a bunch of sanctioned events as part of the festivities,
including a swapmeet, the all-new Barrett-Jackson auction, and
drag races. The entire town turns into a car show that week. Our plan
was to try to see everything. Seems simple, right?
Hot rods everywhere
We stumbled out of our hotel on Friday morning into blinding sun
and right into the middle of a car show. This is the kind of thing you
come to expect in Reno during Hot August Nights week, but for us,

Page 31

Jim Pickering
grandpa and a budding car enthusiast
Chad Tyson
on day one, it was a surprise. Especially considering this was 9 a.m.
on a weekday.
My plan for the morning was to grab breakfast with Chad and then
head to the Barrett-Jackson auction at the Reno-Sparks Convention
Center to pick up our press passes and snap some photos. Of course,
those plans changed as soon as we saw shiny paint and chrome
lining the street in front of our hotel. The quick bite to eat we were
thinking of turned into a photo shoot and a gawking moment, and we
each headed off in different directions, chasing different interests.
Looking back, that pretty much set the tone for our entire trip.
I grabbed that quick bite while checking out a lifted ’50s Chevy
truck and an M60 machine gun, which was mounted on a Vietnamera
Jeep. Across from me, an older man walked down the center of
Virginia Street with his granddaughter beside him, scanning the row
of Mustangs to the left and custom ’50s Chevys to the right. It seemed
at the time like a rare sight — she was just as interested as he was; it
was the kind of moment that builds new car enthusiasts. This turned
out to be a theme pretty much everywhere we went. I snapped a pic
Jim Pickering
A bit of military history that distracted Jim
of them just as Chad returned, showing me a schedule of events he’d
picked up that listed all the things going on consecutively. Getting to
everything was going to be tough.
Light ’em up
That night, we headed to Sparks for the Hot August Nights drag
races — a sixteenth-of-a-mile shot set up in the Nugget parking lot
next to the I-80 freeway. I posted up on the chain-link fence right next
to the burnout box just as a flamed ’57 Chevy Nomad throttled up and
went screaming past, smoking his tires down half of the track. He
backed up to the starting line as a blue T-bucket dry-hopped up next
Drag races
lit up the
night on a
sixteenth-ofa-mile
setup
in the Nugget
parking lot
Jim Pickering
November-December 2013 33

Page 32

GLOVEBOXNOTES FEATURE HOT AUGUST NIGHTS
By Chad Tyson
Jeep graciously provided us with a 2014
Grand Cherokee Summit edition for our
2,000-mile round trip from Portland to
Reno, on to Monterey and back home.
2014 Jeep grand Cherokee
Summit 4x4 SuV
Jim Pickering
The cruise through Sparks draws a sizeable crowd
Price as tested: $51,990
equipment: ; 3.6-liter V6, 290 hp,
8-sp auto with E-shifter
ePA mileage: 17/24
Likes: Attractive and a commanding
presence. Feels like it can go anywhere.
Handles off-road trails with no drama
and in full comfort. Nimble for an SUV,
and even for a large sedan. The assisted
steering is point and go. The Quadra-lift
air suspension gives separation between
the bumps, ruts and debris found on
back-country highways. Ground clearance
is adjustable from 8.7 inches to
11.3 inches at the touch of a button.
25-gallon tank and 24 mpg highway
makes for fantastic range.
Dislikes: Auto windshield-wiping function
isn’t all that smart, as it selects
the fastest wiping setting during light
rains. The touchscreen does not always
respond to touch commands. Chrysler
imported (from Detroit) the stubby
T-shaped shifter from the 300 and
Charger twins. Selecting “drive” and
“park” is easy, with “reverse” requiring a
more gentle maneuver.
Verdict: The Grand Cherokee is for the
buyer who wants legitimate off-roading
capabilities with leather seats and a
chrome grille. It’s a fancy multi-use tool.
Camping, commuting, road trips, towing,
this rig can do it all. It isn’t cheap, as the
Summit starts at $50,995 plus delivery.
It all adds up to a lot of vehicle for the
price.
Fun to drive:
Fun to look at:
overall experience:
is best
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
½
At night, cars cruise the Reno strip two-by-two
Jim Pickering
to him, the driver clearly working hard to keep the lightweight in relative control. On green
they flew down the track in five seconds of fury. Win light: Nomad.
I struck up a conversation with Bob, a local guy standing next to me on the fence line. He’d
been to every Hot August Nights celebration since the beginning, and he had a method for getting
the most out of it: “I start at the southernmost hotel, roll through each parking lot car show
and take a quick look around, and then move on to the next one. I make sure I’m in Sparks to
watch the cars cruise at the end of the afternoon. That way, the cars I missed all come to me.”
Good advice, although even he admitted that it didn’t always work, and it didn’t include the
all-new B-J auction.
A few minutes later, a built Nova powered down the track and smashed into the wall. Its rear
quarter was punched in hard and its rear bumper was twisted up into the body, and its owner’s
pride looked even worse. But the crowd loved it.
Slow roll
Saturday night, Chad and I walked the strip to see the trademark cruise session pass
under the famous Reno sign. The downtown stretch of Virginia Street was cordoned off with
temporary fencing between the road and the sidewalk, and the cars started coming before
the sun went down — slowly at first, and then more frequently, taking up both lanes. People
milled around on both sides of the street, sometimes as many as five deep at the fence, trying
to catch a glimpse of the hot rods and customs rolling past. The cars ran with parking lights
illuminated and every seat filled.
A ’56 T-bird cruised past with four people in it — two grandparents and their grandkids,
who were standing up and waving like it was a parade float. A ’57 Chevy wagon was behind
them, filled beyond capacity, complete with a 20-something kid sitting on the open tailgate.
Some drivers threw candy to the crowd, and others threw strings of beads. Some just revved
their engines to cheers from the gawking public. As the sun went down, the neon signs of the
strip reflected in the ’50s and ’60s chrome and gave off a pinkish orange glow. I grabbed a spot
on the fence and trained my camera at the oncoming classic traffic.
Someone nearby commented on how busy it was. His friend replied: “If you think this is
big, you should have seen Sparks earlier.” He looked around at the thousands of people up and
down the street and continued: “It was crazy.”
By the time the last classic left downtown Reno, we’d been going non-stop for five car-filled
days, and we didn’t come anywhere close to seeing everything like we’d planned. But we tried.
And as they say, there’s always next year. A

Page 34

Cheap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
BUDGET BUYS
at the Monterey auctions
PROOF YOU CAN GO TO THE PENINSULA AND BUY A CAR
WITHOUT HAVING A FACEBOOK FOUNDER’S BUDGET
W
Dave Tomaro
1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible
RM Lot 256, VIN E7FH173594, sold at $74,250
Powered by the 270-hp, 312-ci dual-quad-inducted V8, this
Thunderbird Bronze example was well enough restored in the late
1990s to have been a 2000 AACA Senior National First Prize winner.
In addition to being one of 977 “E-birds,” its options include a Town
& Country radio and a “porthole delete” hard top.
At $74,250, this was a relative bargain for E-birds, although they
have cooled somewhat in price since a similarly equipped and condition
example sold at Mecum’s Kansas City auction two and a half
years ago for $145,200.
Speaking of relative bargains, it was only $27,425,750 less than the
top selling Ferrari here (that car set a new world record for a street car
sold at auction). Jeez, I imagine that the new owner likely had to slink
away in shame for getting such a cheap car. Like everything in life,
it all depends on your point of view. (See the FoMoCo Profile on
p. 48).
Cheap:
Thrilling:
Well-bought factor:
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
ith everyone talking about all the cars that set records as multimillion-dollar sales in Monterey this year, I elected instead to look
to the bottom of the market there and review the cheapest domestic-built road car sold at each one of the auction houses. Were
they actually cheap, thrilling, or a good well-bought combination of all factors? Let’s take a look.
Here we go, from the most spent to the least (
is best).
Courtesy of Russo and Steele
1966 Ford Mustang 2-door hard top
Russo and Steele car consignment 5157, VIN 6R07C161799,
sold at $11,000
This was the most inexpensive (read cheapest-selling) domestic
car at Russo, and overall was worthy of a best-buy flag (rather than
a best-buy flog). It had been carefully owned since new and lightly
refurbished as needed, unlike most hard tops that are cheap enough to
be kid-attainable and kid-thrashed.
This 200-horse 289-powered Pony also had a Parchment-and-blue
Pony interior with center console to contrast with the newer blue
repaint. Offered at no reserve, it was going to get its walking papers
regardless of the bid, and made it to $11,000 with the juice. Sure, the
engine bay needed a detailing job, but if this was a drop-top, it would
be market-correct at triple the price.
At $11k, drive it until you get your utility value out of it and are
bored with it, then close your eyes and flip it. You can’t do much
worse, and you’ll likely make a buck or two.
Cheap:
Thrilling:
Well-bought factor:

Page 35

atypically small — you know that you have a diminutive race car
when your support truck is a Ford Ranger in matching red.
Originally modified in the 1950s and known ever since as the
Gardner Special after the chap who originally started competing
with it in California in 1953, it had a well-documented history before
Donald’s ownership from 2003 through 2008.
After he bought it, Donald had the motor rebuilt before competing
in several VSCCA events, in addition to the Monterey Historics. He
sold it to this consignor at Amelia Island in 2008, and it has been
mostly static but race-ready since.
Crosley Hot Shots can actually be pretty serious competition
Courtesy of Bonhams
1910 Buick Model 10 Touring
Bonhams Lot 129, VIN 21278 (the engine number),
sold at $41,800
Not only is this the oldest vehicle on our list, but it was also the
only non-runner. It was restored so long ago that nobody was entirely
certain when it earned the AACA award badge affixed to it. However,
it was in a number of notable early collections, including those of of
Dr. Samuel L. Scher and Richard C. Paine Jr., before it sold to the
overseas collector who consigned it here.
Buick was slightly dysfunctional during the Brass Era, as they had
both grand road cars and entry-level cars such as the Model 10. In
fact, its biggest competition in the marketplace was the Ford Model
T; both used small-displacement 4-cylinder engines and a 2-speed
planetary transmission. Priced at $850 FOB Flint, MI, in 1910, it was
also price-competitive with the T. However, the T got vastly more
inexpensive shortly thereafter, thanks to mass-production refinements,
while Buick elected to take the upmarket path.
Priced at $41,800 FOB in Monterey, CA, on August 16, 2013, about
the only way you’ll get a cheaper Brass Era car that looks this good
is to get a pre-1917 Ford Model T. The cosmetics were presentable
as it sat, in part because it was a museum car until offered here. It’ll
need a recomissioning to get going again, but once you do, it will be
welcomed at a plethora of events, both static and moving.
Cheap:
Thrilling:
Well-bought factor:
cars, thanks in no small part to continued parts availability for their
motors. They hop up well and can even have their suspensions set up
respectably, too.
While the $30,800 price of admission may seem spendy for a
Crosley, you can’t get here any cheaper regardless of whether you start
with a good original or from scratch with a dead hulk. Heck, it was
even cheap compared with the auction house’s official guesstimate of
$40,000–$55,000, but was offered at no reserve. Coupled with the oneoff
modifications and provenance, this deal was as screaming good as
the motor going down the main straight at Laguna Seca.
Cheap:
Thrilling:
Well-bought factor:
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna Type S-3
Mecum Lot T18, VIN 1E37U4Z420408, sold at $4,000
Finally, we have Mecum. As the everyman’s (and woman’s) auction
company, it’s no surprise that they had the cheapest car with a title
sold at auction in swanky Monterey.
They had the most to choose from at 677 cars offered. And this
one wasn’t all that bad of a car, either — once you got past the goofy
graphics. It was claimed to have been used in a TV show, but nobody
stated which one. However, it had been a California blue-plate car
since new (a big plus with the locals) and it was loaded with options:
400 cube small block, a/c, power steering, power brakes, power
windows, tilt steering column and swivel bucket seats.
Some may feel that this is one of the poster children of the Malaise
Dave Tomaro
1950 Crosley Gardner Special Roadster
Gooding Lot 138, VIN VC 20346, sold at $30,800
It’s not often that you get a chance to own a car from one of our
contributors. This was your shot.
While he is more at home with Italian Etceterini in the pages of
parent magazine Sports Car Market, Donald Osborne’s work has occasionally
been seen here, plus he has a few occasional odd penchants
for American Iron, and for a while it was this custom Crosley. It’s
Era, but that’s more sour grapes due to this being one of the restyled
A-bodies, which displaced the muscle-car-era 1968–72 series. But
these sold like hotcakes, hotdogs, and apple pie at the Chevy dealers,
and offered a modicum of performance.
The Laguna — the top-end series — featured a fully impact-
resistant front fascia, and the Type S-3 was the sporty package (with
similarity to the SS moniker having to be purely intentional). Damn
few were saved or even cared about past 1980 unless you were a
Figure 8 racer or Demo Derby jockey, so nice ones are about as hard
to find as buck-a-gallon gas.
Sure, don’t hold your breath for an invite to Pebble next year, but
you may knock ’em dead at the Concours de LeMons instead. Sold
for $4,000. A Monterey rental car for the week likely cost more.
Cheap:
Thrilling:
Well-bought factor: A
November-December 2013 37

Page 36

Horsepower
Colin Comer
IS IT WRONG
to race your car?
OWNING A SIGNIFICANT VINTAGE COMPETITION CAR COMES WITH
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
well-preserved piece of history is
wrong — and hazardous to your
health.
This doesn’t mean don’t USE the
car to keep it healthy. What it does
mean is to drive the car carefully —
and with preservation as the main
goal — in exhibition events.
Now, if you have a significant
car that is doing an impersonation
of George Washington’s ax (three
new handles and two new heads)
that is restored and has enough
modern safety improvements hidden
in it to keep you alive, then by
all means race it.
Another shunt or another new
Comer running his 1967 Camaro up front — carefully
to use them in are multiplying rapidly, and many owners are throwing
caution to the wind and putting history at risk — at least as far as the
detractors are concerned.
So, is actually using a car you own in the way you wish as despi-
W
cable as many are saying?
Well, it depends.
This is an onion with a lot of layers. First, many know that I am
an avid vintage racer, and I don’t go there to be a back marker. I like
to win, and I spend considerable time preparing my cars — and even
myself — to do so. Does it always work? Absolutely not. But even
when it doesn’t there is something extremely satisfying about racing a
vintage car that is working well and doing what it was designed to do.
What follows is strictly this racer’s opinion.
Right place, right time
First, the venue must suit the car.
If you have a significant car with an important history that appears
untouched from its last important race in period, do not race it among
lesser cars or in anger. This would be irresponsible, as destroying a
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
hether or not to actually use historic race cars has
always been a topic of debate among car collectors.
These debates have become a lot more heated lately —
especially when it comes to vintage racing. Why?
Values of significant cars are soaring, the venues
engine will not be a loss to its historic
importance. The same goes for
recently “converted” race cars, such
as a non-R-model GT350 that was
deemed too far gone to restore and
was made into a race car. Go forth and race, my speedy friend.
For example, I have a 1964 Eisert Indy car, s/n 001, that is 100%
period-correct — right down to its original engine and the nearly
complete absence of any safety items. I “race” this car at about 6/10ths
only in select events against similar cars and their similarly terrified
drivers.
On the other hand, I have a few 1990s tube-frame Trans Am
Mustangs that are historic enough to vintage-race and safe enough for
me to run at 10/10ths all day long without unreasonably risking life,
limb, or an irreplaceable car.
The road is dangerous, too
Second, do not think road rallies are safer than racing. I find them
quite the opposite.
First, traffic is going all directions instead of just one. Second,
anybody can get a driver’s license, but many cannot get a competition
license. And let’s not talk about the risks of parking outside for days
or unforeseen bad road conditions.
I see many historically significant cars partaking in 1,000-mile
road rallies on public roads. The same rules as above apply. If you
have an irreplaceable, unrestored car, letting it get hit by a teenager
too busy texting in a 6,000-pound SUV to slow down by conventional
means would be tragic. One needs to use extreme caution to avoid
being labeled irresponsible here.

Page 37

were in period — with respect and admiration. Check out www.
historictransam.com and note how the cars are prepared. If everybody
adheres to the same set of rules, then everybody can still enjoy good
racing.
Be careful — but don’t tiptoe
Bottom line: If you are lucky enough to be a caretaker of a signifi-
cant vintage competition car, it is a role that comes with great responsibility
and clearly requires great restraint. But we shouldn’t tiptoe
around old race cars as they rot away as static displays. Anything but
that, please!
Paintings and sculptures were designed as static displays, but cars
Historic Trans Am: Big history equals big responsibility
But if you have a great old car that you could replace or restore
without erasing history if an SUV decided to rough it up — then pass
the route book.
Don’t mess with the past
Finally, resist the temptation of go-fast upgrades. If you have one
of Ronnie Sox’s ’Cudas and think you should put fuel injection or a
Tremec 5-speed in it, YOU SHOULD NOT.
Go and buy Billy Bob’s Barracuda he tubbed in his back yard and
ran for years with a BBC in it — and then put your touches on that
car. The same goes with any historic race car — it needs to represent
its importance at its most significant point in time. Not to burst your
bubble, but the car’s most significant time isn’t when you are racing it.
The Historic Trans Am guys are doing a fantastic job of showing
us how to honor a special era and race important cars as they
were made to be driven, and race cars were made to be raced. I am
a firm believer that we need to keep these cars in circulation and not
hide them away. Plus, the only real way to enjoy a race car is to race it,
and the spectators certainly enjoy it as well.
Racing needs to be done responsibly, and take into consideration
the age and importance of the car — as well as the age and abilities of
its current driver.
No matter what, if your name isn’t Dan Gurney, I’m reasonably
sure you can’t drive like him, and no matter how well any of us turn a
lap, I bet Penske isn’t waiting to sign us.
We’re car collectors first and foremost, and by definition that
means don’t mix lemonade in the Ming vase, so to speak. Of course,
if you desire to race at 10/10ths all the time with an eye towards the
podium, there is always a large selection of vintage race cars devoid
of meaningful, period competition history just itching to see the high
side of 8,000 rpm.
So, is it irresponsible to race your old car? As you can see, it de-
pends. Choose your weapon wisely, and I will see you on the grid. A
November-December 2013 39

Page 38

Corvette Market
John L. Stein
ADVENTURE
Accessories for
A CORVETTE IS AS ROBUST AS A PICKUP — ONLY WITH SLIGHTLY LESS
GROUND CLEARANCE. HERE’S WHAT I WANT BOLTED TO MINE
Trailer hitch
’Vettes are brutes and can tow small
boats, dirt bikes or go-karts without cracking
the secondaries open. If the Beach
Boys’ Dennis Wilson could do it with his
Ferrari Lusso, you can do it with any V8
Corvette. Eckler’s Corvette offers Class I
hitches for C4 Corvettes for $300, a pair
of Class I hitches for the C3, also for $300,
and a Class I hitch for the C5 for $190.
Suspension Connection offers a Class I
hitch for the C6 for $211.
CB antenna
If you’ve got one of these sprouting from
1968–77 C3 Corvette luggage rack available from Mid America Motorworks
Courtesy of Mid America Motorworks
fine with the Muncie gear lever typically warm to the touch, the
327/350 smooth and strong, water temp and oil pressure steady, and
my triathlon bike securely on its rack.
Wait, a bicycle rack on a midyear? Hey, it’s my dream, Bubba.
Corvettes are inspiring performance vehicles, but they’re also
I
vehicles for adventure — such as my dream trip to Badwater, where
I can crank out some long, fast bike miles at 282 feet below sea level.
Their steel (and more recently, aluminum) frames are enormously
rigid, their suspension systems capable, and their motors — well,
there’s no limiting what a Corvette V8 can do.
With these strengths, any Corvette from any generation can
actually handle just about anything, from autocrossing to driving the
Alcan Highway. In my view, any accessory that invites and supports
a broader use of the Corvette lives on my Friends page. So while I’m
emphatically not into fuzzy dice, spoilers and window tinting, I am
into these items:
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
n my dreams, I’m driving a ’67 Corvette roadster through
Panamint Valley in eastern California, halfway between the
gritty mining town of Trona and sintering Death Valley. It’s
winter, and the sun’s southern azimuth throws long shadows on
the coarse pavement and parched desert. My ’Vette’s running
the rear fascia, it means you’re on a trip
with friends. And that’s good. Mid America
Motorworks offers Corvette-specific
antenna systems for the C4 for $170, and
kits for the C5 and C6 for $180. Eckler’s
Corvette adds a C2 antenna kit for $180.
Any time you can get a Corvette-
specific accessory such as these kits, I’m
a fan. It means you don’t have to try to
engineer it to work yourself, like you would
with a universal system. Just install and go.
Luggage rack
Now to my favorite subject — the prospect of packing an old
American Tourister suitcase and hitting the road. Only problem is, it
won’t fit under a midyear’s rear deck with the convertible top stowed.
Enter the Buz-and-Tod-approved trunk rack. Zip Corvette has
stainless-steel and chrome racks for C3 Corvettes for $200–$235, as
well as T-top luggage-carrier brackets for $170. Corvette America,
Eckler’s and Mid America Motorworks follow suit in the same price
range.
But I’m still looking for a rack for the prodigal Route 66 C1 or
C2 — and a surfboard rack, too!
Air conditioning
It’ll blow open the world of travel possibilities if you can just close
the windows and motor down the road in the heat. Vintage Air’s
Surefit systems promise a whole new world of Corvette adventuring
for C1, C2 and 1968–76 C3 models at $1,395 per kit. The systems use
ozone-safe R134a refrigerant, and the company says installation takes
about two days.

Page 39

Winter tires
Long ago in Michigan, I discovered that a C4 was useless in the snow with stock rubber — and then I
experienced winter tires transform it into a viable driver. Tire Rack has a wide assortment of winter treads
for the C4 (from $488 for a set of General Altimax Arctics to $928 for Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 ZPs).
Also, Michelin offers Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tires sized for the C6 that cost $359 for each front tire and
$521 for each rear — $1,760 per set. Pirelli likewise lists a range of Winter Sottozero Serie II tires — including
some run-flats — sized to fit Corvette C4, C5 and C6 models.
Security systems
Unfortunately, your ’Vette is a target when you’re on the road and can’t tuck it inside at night. While not
Corvette-specific, Viper security systems offer state-of-the-art features such as smartphone integration and
GPS tracking for $240 to $400 and up. Similar Python systems range from $240 to $300. For earlier carbureted
Corvettes, a clever combination of hidden electrical and fuel shutoffs, along with a steering wheel/
brake pedal lock, motion detector and even a pager system, can help foil theft attempts.
You may not be able to stop a determined thief, but you can slow them down, and a lot of times that’s
enough to make them change their mind and move on.
Earplugs
How’s your hearing in a noisy restaurant? If you’re like many longtime car guys, maybe not so good,
thanks to long-term effects of shop tools, engine and wind noise.
Various custom ear molds, ranging from $118 to $175 from the Ear Plug Superstore and other companies,
allow normal conversation while protecting against loud noises. And for just $5 to $10 per box, Super
Leight foam earplugs claim an impressive 33-decibel reduction. For a top-down bike-hauling trip into
Death Valley, that’s what I’m going to be wearing.
These items may not be the the first thing you consider when thinking about your car’s market value
— they certainly won’t make it worth considerably more to the next owner. But Corvettes are a lot more
capable than you probably think, and depending on how you use your car, each of these items will make
your experience a little better out on the highway. In my book, there’s a lot of value in that. A
Resources
Corvette America
800-458-3475
www.corvetteamerica.com
Ear Plug Superstore
918-478-5500
www.earplugsuperstore.com
Eckler’s Corvette
800-284-3906
www.ecklerscorvette.com
Mid America Motorworks
800-500-1500
www.mamotorworks.com
Suspension Connection
800-903-2760
www.suspensionconnection.com
Python
www.pythoncarsecurity.com
Tire Rack
888-541-1777
www.tirerack.com
Vintage Air
800-862-6658
www.vintageair.com
Viper
www.viper.com
November-December 2013 41

Page 40

PROFILE CORVETTE
1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE L88 CONVERTIBLE
The baddest RPO around
John Hollansworth Jr., courtesy of Mecum Auctions
The L88 was
Corvette’s
race-spec
option — the
kind of thing
you ordered
to go
200 mph
VIN: 194678S419379
by Michael Pierce
• One of 80 built, with fewer than half as
convertibles
• No-hit body restored by the Naber Brothers
of Houston
• After its frame-off nut-and-bolt restoration,
this 16,000-mile L88 received the honor of being
Bloomington Gold Certified and invited to many
Bloomington Gold Special Collections
• Retains its “born-with” original motor
• The only black L88 convertible known from all
three years of production with its OEM original
engine
• Al Grenning of CCAS has certified the engine
to be original to the car
• Finished as-original in Tuxedo Black and still
retains its original black leather seats and mostly
original interior
• Documented with the Protect-O-Plate, original
order sheet, dealer invoice and title application
• Options on the NCRS-authenticated original
documents are full transistorized ignition,
3.70 Positraction, M22 4-speed transmission,
white soft top, tinted glass, F41 suspension,
J56 heavy-duty brakes and N11 off-road exhaust
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S158, sold for
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
$856,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at the Mecum Monterey auction in Monterey,
CA, on August 17, 2013.
From production line to pole position
Few options stand out in the domestic performance
automotive world as clearly as Corvette’s L88, offered
from 1967 to ’69. It was Corvette’s top-dog race-spec
option — the kind of thing you ordered if you wanted
to hit 200 mph flat out or run 10s in the quarter mile.
And you could get it directly from your friendly local
Chevrolet dealer — provided you knew the package
existed.
Only 216 Corvettes were built as L88s out of 91,000
units produced from 1967 to ’69. Twenty were ordered
in 1967, 80 in 1968, and 116 in 1969. The heart of the
beast was a hand-built 427 big block with four-bolt
main-bearing caps, aluminum heads, large valves
(2.19 intake and 1.84 exhaust), a high-lift cam with
solid lifters, 12.5:1 slugs, HD springs, and a Holley
850 double-pumper carburetor.
You couldn’t get a radio, heater, choke or fan
shroud, but you had to order and pay for J50 vacuum
power brakes, the J56 special master cylinder with a
proportioning valve and dual-pin calipers, F41 HD
suspension, M22 Muncie rock-crusher 4-speed, G81
Positraction rear end and K66 transistor ignition.
And speaking of paying, at $948 in ’67 and ’68 and
$1,032 in ’69, the L88 was the most expensive available
option on the order sheet. It cost almost a quarter
of the price of a base car.

Page 41

ACC
Digital Bonus
Intentionally underrated
The L88 wasn’t advertised as being the monster it
truly was. According to dealer literature, the highest
horsepower available on paper was the Tri-Power
L71 solid-lifter motor, which put out a reported 435
horsepower. The L88, on the other hand, was rated at
only 430 horsepower despite actually putting out close
to 560 horsepower. How did GM get away with that?
Simple. By rating the engine at well under its peak
power RPM on the dyno.
That lower rating helped keep these race-bred
beasts out of the hands of inexperienced drivers —
especially the ones who wandered into their local
Chevy dealer looking for the hottest thing available
for street use. Those guys ended up with slightly more
user-friendly L71 427/435s.
And it was for the best, as the L88 didn’t like being
treated as a driver. These cars all required a minimum
of 102 octane leaded gas and were totally impractical
on the street. The lack of a fan shroud gave them a
nasty habit of overheating, no choke meant rough
cold starts, and the lack of a radio or heater limited
comfort. In-town cruising wasn’t part of the vision;
street and track racing were.
On the track, these cars really shined. A ’67 L88
coupe made 186 mph at Daytona in 1970, and other
versions achieved 10.82 ETs at 156 mph in quartermile
drag competition. Those are impressive numbers
for factory-delivered C2 and C3 Corvettes.
Cubic dollars
When documented, original ’67 L88s sell, they
bring big money. The only known original-motor
’67 convertible was purchased about 10 years ago
for $550,000 in a private sale. It was recently sold
to a group of investors for around $4m. The maroon
sidepipe ’67 convertible that sold at Mecum Dallas
in early September for $3.4m is the latest example of
supply and demand.
But those cars are top of the hill in the world of
L88s. The later cars, like our profile car, aren’t quite
as scarce. But they’re still rare and expensive, especially
when they have good documentation.
Rumbling L88 market
This black L88 convertible had just 16,000 miles on
the clock when it was sold for $856,000. Noted musclecar
collector Chris Piscitello of Texas was the seller.
It had its original engine and had been restored by the
renowned Nabers Brothers restoration shop.
This car’s paperwork was second to none. It
included the car’s original shipping record and the
dealer’s order copy, the original Protect-O-Plate,
the owner’s manual, its Bloomington Gold Award
Certificate, the first owner’s original registration, the
original dealer’s retail order, its Blooming Gold L88
Invasion certificate, Al Grenning’s CCAS letter of authenticity,
and an NCRS Document Validation Service
letter confirming that the build order copies submitted
for comparison to official GM shipping data records
were original.
Within a day of this sale, Gooding & Company’s
Pebble Beach auction sold another L88 coupe. This
was a 1969 model, complete with its original sidepipes.
It also had its original engine and drivetrain
and happened to be a 1971 AHRA quarter-mile world
record holder. Offered as Gooding Lot 29, it sold for
$726,000 (ACC# 227440).
Follow the leader
Ultra-rare first-year ’67 L88s have seen exponential
increases in value lately. At ACC’s Corvette Market
seminar at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale this past
January, I spoke about the private sale of the red,
12-mile ’67 L88 from Roger Judski’s collection to a
buyer in Illinois. That car sold for well over $1m. In
August, a ’67 Lynndale L88 sold for $2m in another
private deal, and was resold only days later for $3m
to new owners in Washington. And then, on the first
Saturday in September, that maroon ’67 L88 made
$3.4m at the Mecum auction in Dallas.
Lately, the ’68 and ’69 L88s have been tracking very
close to one-third the value of comparable ’67s, coupe
or convertible. Chalk that up to the ’67 mystique,
because the option package and specifications are
almost identical. Regardless, the ’68 and ’69 sharks
are being bootstrapped by the ’67 sales.
And it all makes sense. Think about the traits that
make some cars special and valuable investments for
collectors: factory equipped with the highest-performance
options, best colors, convertible tops, big tanks,
HD brakes, original condition, great paperwork and
race history. An L88, especially our subject car, fills
out most of these squares.
So, at the end of the day, while this car was expen-
sive, I still think it was bought well. If the best early
cars continue to rise in value — and it looks like that’s
what’s going on — these will, too. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
November-December 2013
43CC
43
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88
convertible
Gooding & Co., Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/19/2013
ACC# 214797
Lot 128, VIN: 194679S721263
Condition: 3
Sold at $825,000
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88
convertible (subject car)
Lot F200, VIN:
194678S419379
Condition: 2
Not sold at $625,000
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/18/2013
ACC# 216625
Detailing
Years produced: 1967–69
Number produced: 216 total
(20 in 1967, 80 in 1968,
116 in 1969)
Original list price: $6,305.35
Current ACC Valuation:
$420k–$850k
Tune-up: $1,000
Distributor cap: $350 (OEM)
VIN: Stamped into frame on
driver’s side rear and sill
Engine #: Stamped on engine
pad in front of right-hand
head
Club: National Corvette
Restorers Society (NCRS),
Bloomington Gold
More: www.ncrs.org, www.
bloomingtongold.com
Alternatives: 1963–65 Shelby
Cobra 289, 1970 Plymouth
Hemi ’Cuda, 1969
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
ACC Investment Grade: A
Comps
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88
coupe
Lot 29, VIN: 194379S736254
Condition: 2+
Sold at $726,000
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach,
CA, 8/18/2013
ACC# 227440

Page 42

PROFILE GM
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS L89
High-performance Camaro duel...
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
Very few
buyers
checked
the box
for the L89
aluminum
heads, and
that makes
the package
rare today
by Dale Novak
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS L89
VIN: 124379N593096; sold by Barrett-Jackson
• Undocumented L89 aluminum heads
• This rare Super Sport Camaro is an X66-code,
non-trim big block finished in original color combo
of Code 71 LeMans Blue exterior with Parchment
interior and vinyl top
• Meticulous rebuild of the entire drivetrain; over
500 hours spent on the show-quality body and paint
• All components are date-code-correct
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS L89
VIN: 124379L501175; sold by Gooding & Company
• One of only 311 L89 Camaros built in 1969
• Delivered new to Ventura, CA
• Vivid Rallye Green and white color combination
• Equipped with rare factory options
• Exacting high-point restoration
• Offered with GM Protect-O-Plate
ACC Analysis Here’s something you don’t see
every day: This past August, two
rare L89 Camaros came up for auction — one at
Barrett-Jackson’s inaugural Reno sale, and one at
Gooding’s long-standing Pebble Beach auction. Each
sold for $110,000, including buyer’s premiums, and
both cars sold at no reserve — a near perfect side-byside
comparison opportunity. Editor Pickering knows
I can’t avoid this sort of thing, so let’s get to it. Which
L89 was the better buy?
Big blocks on a diet
First, a little background. There were two versions
of the big-block 396-ci 375-hp engines offered for
the 1969 Camaro: the L78 and the L89. The L78 used
standard cast-iron cylinder heads, while the L89
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
featured aluminum units. Just 311 of the lighter L89s
were made, compared with 4,889 L78s.
While the L89s aluminum heads didn’t increase
horsepower above the L78, those heads did shave
about 50 pounds of curb weight off the car’s nose, and
that was an important factor for hardcore racers. The
option was expensive in 1969 — $710.95 — more than
double the price of the L78 option.
But given that there was no change in horsepower,
very few buyers checked the box for the aluminum
heads, and that makes the package rare today.
Line ’em up
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Both of these
cars were in great condition. Both were reported to
have had recent nut-and-bolt restorations to concours
levels, and the auction photos supported those claims.
If we’re just looking at condition, it’s anyone’s game.
The most notable difference between the two cars?
The LeMans Blue Camaro sold by Barrett-Jackson
is an SS model, while the Rallye Green L89 sold by
Gooding & Company is an RS/SS. This is an important
distinction, since the RS option brings the rarity factor
on the green car up a few notches.
The blue SS
This car, Lot 699.2, sold for $110,000, including
buyer’s premium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Reno Tahoe
sale on August 10, 2013.
This car was nicely optioned, but not overly so,
which is what you would expect given the weaponsgrade
package. Options included the 396/375 L89,
M21 transmission, 4.10 Positraction axle, power disc
brakes, A.I.R. smog equipment, AM push-button radio,
steel wheels wrapped in period Polyglas tires, and T3
headlights.
This car was finished in popular LeMans Blue over

Page 43

ACC
Digital Bonus
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS L89
Which was the better buy?
Mike Maez, courtesy of Gooding & Company
an equally impressive Parchment interior. The car was reported to
have been restored to the original colors as delineated on the cowl
tag. The restoration also included tracking down several new old
stock (NOS) parts to keep the car as pure as possible. These included
a correct engine block, ultra-rare aluminum heads, alternator,
distributor, cooling fan and the dual-feed Holley carburetor. The car
also included the usually missing-in-action A.I.R smog equipment,
which was typically tossed by original owners on day two.
The car certainly looks to be a turn-key trailer queen and ready for
the national stage.
The green RS/SS
This car, Lot 23, sold for $110,000, including buyer’s premium, at
Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach sale on August 17, 2013.
L89s are rare enough already. Couple that with the additional
Rally Sport option, and you get an infinitely rare L89.
Why? Because most SS 396/375 Camaros were sparse in regards
to creature comforts. Buyers who wanted L89 aluminum heads didn’t
care about niceties such as a center console or power-robbing accessories.
Makes sense, as most buyers opting for a street terror or
track-ready machine didn’t want any commuter-car trinkets.
But this car was topped off with options. Tons of them — including
items such as a Rosewood steering wheel, houndstooth interior,
console, power steering (ultra rare and typically not allowed on an
SS L89 build), power brakes, Endura bumper, and the marriage of the
Rally Sport and Super Sport (RS/SS) packages.
It’s probably safe to assume that the original buyer of this car in
1969 was a well-heeled gentleman who wanted a Camaro that not
only presented in high style, but that would shred the skinny Polyglas
tires to bits. Mission accomplished.
Cowl tags, X-codes and Protect-O-Plates
When it comes to muscle-car values, it always boils down to one
thing: documentation. And while these cars both looked great, when
it came to history, they were on different levels.
The Barrett-Jackson blue SS didn’t have documentation support-
ing the originality of its L89 package, and Barrett-Jackson and the
consignor were both very up-front about that. It was even included in
the very first line of the descriptive text. The consignor made it clear
that the only supporting item was an X66 code on the trim tag, which
November-December 2013
45CC
45

Page 44

PROFILE GM
Detailing
Years produced: 1968–69
Number produced: 311
(1969)
Original list price: $3,733
Current ACC Valuation:
$42k–$65k
Tune-up cost: $300
Distributor cap: $25 (NOS
originals can be
up to $200)
Engine #: Stamped on
passenger’s side front of
block, below cylinder head
VIN: On plate at base
of windshield
Club: American Camaro
Association
delineates the factory build as an original SS 396.
The Gooding & Company green RS/SS was a
California-built car, which utilized a slightly different
cowl tag configuration that does not include an X66
code. As such, documentation was even more vital to
verify this car’s original build. And it had it.
Docs on the green car included information as to
where it sold originally, with regards to the gentleman
who first purchased it in December of 1968. This came
in the form of the original General Motors Protect-OPlate.
GM, as part of the factory warranty on new cars,
provided these small metal plates to owners. Each featured
the car owner’s name and address, affixed to the
plate using a Dymo-type stamped plastic adhesive strip.
These plates can be decoded to specify the original
build with information about components such as the
engine, carburetor, transmission, and rear axle. Better
yet, P.O.Ps also contained factory-installed options
and the month of manufacture. These vital and often
missing plates are highly desirable, especially for a
car as rare as an original RS/SS L89 Camaro.
And the winner is...
I don’t think either buyer got hurt here, and I think
both sellers should be pleased as well.
I would have preferred to see more documentation
for the LeMans Blue Camaro — I’m sure that was a
deal-breaker for some buyers, as the X-code doesn’t
really tell the whole story.
But given the total of the information, presentation
and selling price, it’s safe to assume that the buyer of
the blue car felt that its condition and overall appeal
ranked high. Given the cost of the restoration and
abundance of NOS parts used in the build, he may not
be all that far off.
From our comps in the ACC database, other L89s
(with and without documentation) have sold in the
same price range, so the blue car’s buyer, being fully
aware of the lack of documentation, put his big-boy
pants on and wrote the check. Not a bad deal, all
things considered.
The Gooding & Company Camaro had an estimate
($160,000 to $180,000) well north of the final selling
price and although that seemed over the top, it may
not have been out of line given how rare the car likely
is. Then again, from a presentation point of view, you
could drag on the green car a bit, as greens are not as
desirable today as reds, blues or black.
But for a car like this green one, originality is
paramount over doing a color change to help boost
current market interest, so kudos to the previous
owner for restoring the car as built in 1969, even if he
was tempted to go with another color.
Time to call it. While I believe the buyer of the
LeMans Blue L89 Camaro purchased a very well-done
machine — done right by all regards — its documentation
can’t hold a candle to the green RS/SS’s ProtectO-Plate.
That’s way better than an X-code in my book,
and for the same money, the Gooding & Company car
is the clear winner. A
(Introductory descriptions courtesy of Barrett-
Jackson and Gooding & Company.)
1969 Chevrolet Camaro L89 side-by-side comparison
Scale of 0–5, 5 being the best
1969 Chevrolet SS Camaro L89 1969 Chevrolet RS/SS Camaro L89
Barrett-Jackson Lot 699.2, Reno, NV
Overall condition
Options
Documentation
Date-coded correct
Transmission selection
Color combination
Exterior appeal
Interior appeal
Known history
Overall (NOS) originality
Total score (0–50)
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
5
3
0
4
4
4
4
4
1
4
33
Scoring based on auction company descriptions and detailed photos. Both cars sold at no reserve.
Gooding & Company Lot 23, Pebble Beach, CA
5
5
2
4
4
3
3
5
3
4
38
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
SS 396 L89
Lot S118, VIN:
124379N525733
Condition: 2+
Not sold at $97,000
Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee,
FL, 1/24/2008
ACC# 48838
More: www.americancamaro.
org
Alternatives: 1969 Ford
Mustang 428 SCJ, 1970
Dodge Challenger R/T
440/6, 1969 Pontiac GTO
Judge Ram Air III
ACC investment grade: B
Comps
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
SS 396 L89
Lot 566, VIN: 124379N622059
Condition: 1Sold
at $95,000
Silver Auctions, Reno, NV,
8/5/2010
ACC# 166331
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
SS 396 L89
Lot U75, VIN: 124379N635332
Condition: 2+
Not sold at $90,000
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/13/2009
ACC# 120645

ACC
Digital Bonus
On top of that, the factory per-
formance landscape was changing.
The AMA ban on racing came from a
meeting in February 1957, suggested by
GM president Harlow “Red” Curtice
as a means to save money and prevent
manufacturers from drawing heat on
themselves from safety critics. Although
the race ban crimped Ford’s factorybacked
race victories for years, the
T-bird’s fate was sealed months before
by a marketing decision to make the car
a four-seater for 1958.
Hot parts, hot performance
For a while, the E-code was one
of the best available combinations of
sports car and luxury car. With dual
Holley 4-barrels mounted on a 312 V8,
it pumped out 270 horsepower, and that
was good for 0–60 mph dashes in nine seconds. It
could cover the quarter mile in the 16-second range at
100 mph.
When the AMA race ban went into effect, Ford
wanted out of the race business, and they were quick
to clean house and push out the rest of the performance
parts designed for the task. The majority of the
1,449 E-code engines were assembled and installed
very late in the year. The last’57 T-bird made was an
E-code on December 13, 1957.
Dealers were instructed by memo not to charge
extra for the option, and invoices were marked “NC.”
This performance-engine giveaway seems to have
started in November. Prior to the no-charge status, an
E-code V8 was $151.35 with a standard transmission.
Even at full price, it was a deal compared with the
alternatives available in 1957 with the same kind of
eyeball and power.
This wasn’t just a pair of carbs and an intake. The
E-code was a package with a lot of special parts. The
intake valley pan was deeper, and the linkage, fuel
lines, heads, fuel filter, air cleaner and distributor
were all E-code specific. It was an early example of
what was to come from Detroit during the 1960s.
Another bonus for T-bird fans was the addition of
a hotter supercharger camshaft to the dual quads,
bumping the power up to 285 horses. Many of these
ended up in the latter E-code production cars. One
built as late as December 9 came with the supercharger
camshaft.
Swinging numbers
Pricing on these cars has been interesting. The
E-code Thunderbird’s values have been like a scary
roller-coaster ride. They were strong in 2006, averaging
around $80k before peaking in 2010 at just above
$100k. Then came a crash down to the mid-$60k range.
Our example, sold at $74,250, is a strong sale if you
compare it with other T-bird sales from the past three
years. But over the past year or two, these cars have
rebounded in popularity, with notable sales in the mid
$70k range. When a superb, no-excuses car comes on
the market now, it can crack $100,000 with ease. That
makes this deal look pretty reasonable.
And if you compare it with other period icons such
as ’57 Corvettes and Bel Airs, this price starts to look
even better. Even a hard-top Bel Air generally clears
$100,000 in this market with the right options, and a
’57 Corvette dual-quad will pretty much always go for
more money than a dual-quad T-bird, condition being
equal. In terms of bang for your buck, the E-code has
it over the Chevys.
That said, little birds aren’t for everyone. The steer-
ing wheel is large and space is at a premium inside.
You need to be svelte to drive one comfortably, and
they can be stuffy inside during warm weather.
History equals value
Then there’s the matter of documentation. All 1957s
were produced before the mandatory partial-VINon-engine-block
era, so “numbers matching” can
be a misleading term. The dual-quad 312 shares the
same casting number with the base engine, so without
dealer paperwork or some kind of record, verifying a
genuine E-code T-bird takes time.
This is where provenance plays an important role.
Who owned the car and how much of its past is documented
goes a long way toward establishing a proper
value. And that’s where our subject car’s multiple
show awards come into play.
Considering this car’s unique mix of high-perfor-
mance engineering and comfort, its rarity, and its
history as a concours winner, I don’t think there’s any
denying that it was a fantastic buy. Now all it needs is
to be driven.A
(Introductory description courtesy of RM
Auctions.)
November-December 2013
49CC
49
1957 Ford Thunderbird
E-code convertible
Lot 454, VIN: E7FH243584
Condition: 2+
Sold at $76,450
Leake Auctions, Oklahoma
City, OK, 2/23/2013
ACC# 215331
1957 Ford Thunderbird
convertible
Lot 101, VIN: D7FH140526
Condition: 3
Sold at $85,250
Detailing
Year produced: 1957
Number produced: 21,380
(total) 977 (E-code)
Original list price: $3,350
Current ACC Valuation:
$48k–$64k
Tune-up/major service: $170
Distributor cap: $11.59
VIN: Metal tag on left door
body pillar
Engine #: Casting number on
side of block above oil filter
Club: Vintage Thunderbird
Club International
Alternatives: 1957 Chevrolet
Corvette, 1957 Chevrolet
Bel Air, 1958 Plymouth
Fury Golden Commando
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
RM Auctions, Fort Worth, TX,
4/27/2013
ACC# 216084
1957 Ford Thunderbird
E-code convertible
Lot 470, VIN: E7FH395594
Condition: 1Sold
at $107,625
Hollywood Wheels, West Palm
Beach, FL, 3/24/2013
ACC# 215887

Page 48

PROFILE MOPAR
1969 DODGE SUPER BEE
Super bad and super affordable
Courtesy of Auctions America
The fun
factor
outweighs
the
collectibility
factor here,
and there’s
a lot of value
in that
VIN: WM21H9G196387
by Tom Glatch
• 447-cid, 520-hp V8 engine
• 4-speed manual transmission
• Fresh restoration by car’s third owner
• Ramcharger lift-off hood with display stands
• Performance upgrades
Performance solid-lifter cam and adjustable rockers
and 452 heads. Completely rebuilt in 2002, the engine
has been dyno-tested at 520 hp.
Finished in Jade Green, it has the Ramcharger
T
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
lift-off hood with display stands. The undercarriage
has been extensively powder coated, the brake lines
are stainless steel, and it has a 1¼-inch sway bar and
polyurethane bushings. The 4-speed transmission has
a pistol-grip shifter, and the rear axle is a 4.11 limitedslip
unit.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 3151, sold for
$22,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at the Auctions America Auburn Fall auction in
Auburn, IN, on August 31, 2013.
I consider myself a muscle-car purist. For me,
the best car is one that has been preserved in its
factory-delivered, unmolested state. Sure, it may have
his 1969 Super Bee was treated to a fresh
restoration by its third owners, Jerry and
Rickie Lane, along with significant engine
upgrades. It has a 447-cid RB block,
10:1 Mopar Performance pistons, Mopar
developed a nice patina over the years, but as far as
I’m concerned, you can’t duplicate original condition.
Next best is a properly restored vehicle, with factorycorrect
finishes and OEM parts where possible.
Customized cars tend to make me cringe. Then
again, proper restorations are very expensive, and not
every car on the planet, not even a late-’60s muscle
machine, is deserving of one.
Born a base-level Bee
The Super Bee was a mid-1968-model-year addition
to the Dodge lineup. It was Dodge’s reaction to the
runaway success of Plymouth’s Road Runner, and
other than the Coronet sheet metal and a few interior
pieces, it was almost identical in every way. Its name
came from Chrysler’s internal designation for their
mid-size cars: “B” bodies.
The Dodge was only available as a post coupe
with pop-out rear windows in 1968, but the next year
a hard-top model was added. Post coupes appealed
primarily to racers, as the bodies of these cars were
more rigid with those fixed posts behind each of the
doors. But when the more attractive hard top became
available in ’69, it proved to be a hugely popular option
with buyers.
The VIN on our featured Super Bee tells the story.
It’s one of those unloved ’69 coupes — just 8,202 were
built out of a total of 26,563 Super Bees that year.
Built on the St. Louis assembly line, it was equipped

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with the base 335-hp 383 4-bbl engine. A nice car at
, but nothing extraordinary, and not the most
e of the lot today.
learly, this car isn’t stock anymore. But that’s
d thing.
estore or modify?
fledged factory-level restoration on one of
rs would make sense had it been one of the
irable models, such as a Hemi car or A12 Six
0. Both of those are muscle-car legends. On
t, the Six Pack cars were actually faster and
tter behaved than the Hemis, and today a topnotch
restoration of one can sell for not much
less than the legendary 426 “Elephant.”
Case-in-point, Barrett-Jackson sold an
A12 ’Bee for $216,000 at its Scottsdale sale
in pre-recession 2006 (ACC# 40393). While
today’s more-realistic price might be less
than half that, restoring one of those is still
a worthwhile investment.
But a base-engine Super Bee coupe? A
lot of these cars were built, and while they
re fun to own and drive, the math just doesn’t
. The rule of thumb is this: If the restored car
isn’t worth all that much to begin with, the
owner simply will never get his money out
of the restoration. In this case, you might
get $30k–$35k for a base Super Bee once it’s
perly restored, and you’ll spend that much or
r the restoration to get you there.
or go, not show
ile customized cars tend to turn me off, this
e sense, and here’s why: Powder-coating
parts is much easier than duplicating factory finishes
and markings; a modern two-part paint job is less
time consuming than correct acrylic enamel paint and
gives glossier and more durable results; and a bored
and built 440 Six Pack, while hardly inexpensive, is a
lot easier to come by than an engine built completely
out of correct components and castings with the
proper date codes.
All that rolls into a package that looks, feels, sounds
and performs differently than a factory resto, but in
this case, the finished product will run circles around
an original. This is a car you can actually use without
fear of anything other than your fuel bill and the local
sheriff.
And here’s the real clincher: Typically, it costs a lot
less to complete a car this way. So the end result is a
lot more fun for the dollar, assuming the seller went
into the project knowing he’d be passing those savings
on when it came time to sell.
This modified Super Bee looks great top and bot-
tom, even if the finishes are not factory-correct. And
that 520-hp mill under the hood will devour a stock
street Hemi or A12 at will. The fun factor clearly
outweighs the collectibility factor here, and there’s a
lot of value in that.
I may be a purist, but there’s an old saying in the
aircraft business: “If it looks right, it is right.” This
1969 Super Bee certainly looks right, and with 520 hp
and other upgrades, it goes right. And at $22,000, it’s
priced right, too. Well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
1968 Dodge Super Bee
Lot 51, VIN:
WM21H8A340145
Condition: 3+
Not sold at $39,500
Specialty Auto Auctions, Sioux
Falls, SD, 6/12/2010
ACC# 165513
1969 Dodge Super Bee
Lot 503T, VIN:
WM23H9G270874
Condition: 3
Sold at $15,500
VanDerBrink Auctions,
Adams, ND, 6/11/2011
ACC# 179505
Detailing
Years produced: 1968–71
Number produced: 26,563
(1969)
Original list price: $3,076
Current ACC Valuation:
$20,000–$100,000 (depending
on options)
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $22.58
Chassis #: VIN plate on the
driver’s side instrument
panel behind windshield
Club: Walter P. Chrysler Club
More: www.chryslerclub.org
Alternatives: 1969 Plymouth
Road Runner and GTX,
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge,
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
SS 396.
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
Engine #: Pad on the right
side of the block to the rear
of the engine mount
1969 Dodge Super Bee
Lot F107, VIN:
WM21H9A253849
Condition: 3+
Not sold at $26,000
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City,
MO, 12/1/2011
ACC# 190184
November-December 2013
November-December 2013
51

Page 50

PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1936 FORD MODEL 48 ROADSTER
Lost in time, and price
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams
This roadster
has a nice
stance, but
most of its
history is
gone, and
with that,
much of its
net worth
VIN: 182559060
by Ken Gross
• A period all-steel Ford hot rod
• Well-known car from the Pacific Northwest
hot-rod scene
• Striking color combination of Cadillac Ivory
over dark green
• Beautifully presented throughout
• A usable hot rod for cruise nights or local shows
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 145, sold for
$68,200, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction in Carmel,
CA, on August 26, 2013.
Better the second time
Ford Motor Company cleaned up and mildly
modernized its 1935 designs for the 1936 model year.
The bodies stayed basically the same, but the front
end for the’36 was redesigned, the hood louvers were
reshaped to be more efficient, and the rear fenders
were slightly altered. The Type 710 DeLuxe roadster,
the least-expensive car in the Ford lineup, was $560
new. If you wanted better weather protection than
flimsy canvas snap-on side windows, Ford offered a
snug cabriolet with roll-up windows for $625.
I’ve always thought that the ’36 Ford is that rare
example of a second-year model that’s arguably
52
AmericanCarCollector.com
better-looking than the company’s first try. Phil
Wright, who designed the Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
and worked for Ralph Roberts under John Tjaarda at
Briggs Manufacturing, penned the ’35 Ford. Holden
Koto, another Tjaarda staffer, updated the car for
1936. Interestingly, Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, who
ran Ford’s design department under Edsel Ford, did
not have a hand in the ’36. He was busy with Mr.
Ford’s rakish “Continental Speedster” at the time.
Gregorie later told author Henry Dominguez, “You
can see Edsel’s influence in the ’35 and ’36 Fords.
They have a Bentley look and Edsel liked the design of
the Bentley.” There’s not much overt visual difference
between ’35 and ’36 Fords, but the ’36’s handsome
wrap-around grille, with vertical bars, is attractive,
and the old-style external horns were now hidden
behind discreet little covers, updating the newer car
considerably.
Cut ’em up
Period hot-rodders and customizers loved Ford’s
’36 roadster. At 2,561 pounds, it was light enough to
benefit from a hot flathead. Lowered, with skirts and
teardrop taillights and the external spare-tire mount
shaved, which is what most guys did, the ’36’s inherently
clean lines were made even better.

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Serious customizers leaded in
faired ’40 Chevy headlights, built an
insert rear license plate, installed
vertical LaSalle grilles, fabbed solid
hood sides, and finished things off
with ribbed ’38 DeSoto or later ’41
Ford bumpers. Famed Northern
California customizer Harry
Westergard set the tone for slick
’36s, and many people copied his
examples. The ’36 roadster looked
especially nice with a two- to threeinch
chopped Carson-style padded
top.
This roadster was reportedly
customized in the ’50s in Washington
state, and a period black-and-white
photo in the auction catalog of this
car back in the day got me thinking.
Shot from a low angle from the
rear, showing the insert license, a
“Dragons” hot-rod club plaque from the Western
Washington Timing Association, with a chopped
padded top, low-mounted ’39 Ford teardrops, a
covered gas-filler cap, and 16-inch wide whites with
flipper-bar hubcaps, the car resembled custom ’36s
I’d admired in Rod & Custom magazine nearly 60
years ago.
Unwelcome changes
If you review the scant history in Bonhams’ catalog,
and study the single vintage photo, this ’36 looks to be
a very desirable car. But over the years, as so often
happens, things changed.
Start in back: The insert license plate, a great ’40s-
era touch, is gone. So is the original-style white padded
top. Under the hood lurks a now-ubiquitous 350-ci
Chevy V8 with triple Rochester carbs, backed by an
unspecified 3-speed automatic and a column shift. The
Ford solid axle is gone, replaced by an IFS — perhaps
Mustang or Heidt, with disc brakes — and that’s okay,
but it’s not the real deal. Thankfully, the neatly fitted
’40 Ford dash was retained and painted to match, and
there’s a black-and-cream ’53 Ford Crestliner steering
wheel, along with old-style pleated seats and door
panels in green leatherette.
This roadster has a nice stance, a bit lower in front
than in the rear, which is desirable, and its overall
appearance is pleasing. But sadly, most of this car’s
Detailing
Year produced: 1936
Number produced: 3,862
Original list price: $560
Current ACC Valuation:
$55k–$100k (depending
on build quality, history and
condition)
Tune-up/major service: $200
VIN: Stamped on top of
driver’s side frame rail
Engine #: Stamped on pad on
right front of block, below
cylinder head
Clubs: Goodguys, National
Street Rod Association
(NSRA), Early Ford V-8
Club of America
More: www.good-guys.com,
www.nsra-usa.com
Alternatives: 1934 Ford
roadster, 1935 Ford roadster,
1940 Ford roadster
ACC Investment Grade: C
old mechanical and physical history is gone, and with
that, much of its current net worth.
Ford built just 3,862 DeLuxe roadsters in 1936;
who knows how many remain? There was a lovely
Dearborn Award-winning example offered in
Hemmings Motor News recently for $75,000. I’ve seen
them even higher. If you wanted to replicate this car,
you’d have to spend at least $60k for a decent starting
point, and then add the three-carb small-block, the
suspension updates, a set of 15-inch steelies, etc., so
you’d pay much more than the car’s $68,200 hammer
price, right?
Back to the future
I’d have been tempted to buy this car, yank the
Chevy, and sell it and the tranny, build a stout
flathead, swap a dropped axle and reverse-eye springs
for the IFS, redo the top and the license insert, and
have something closer to a car that could have been
built half a century ago. The revenue from those
unwanted pieces could help offset the cost of the refit.
Today, historic hot rods and custom cars are often
worth more than stockers or later hot-rod builds.
Mecum sold the historic ex-Jack Calori ’36 Ford
3-window, a Hot Rod magazine cover car, for $318k
last year (ACC# 213968), and the ex-Tom McMullen
’32 roadster for $742k at the same sale (ACC# 213966).
Admittedly, this ’36’s history is a bit more obscure,
but I reckon the price would have been
higher had it been offered closer to
the way it was first built. This would
be especially true if more history than
one old photo had been available. The
money was in the room — Bonhams
sold the historic ex-Walker Morrison
’32 Ford roadster in the same sale for
$242k.
Bottom line: If you want a cruiser
with a reliable V8 and an automatic,
this was a decent deal, made even better
because of the car’s “history.” But for
purists, it’s a shame when a great old
hot rod gets updated and its provenance
is lost. I’d say it was fairly sold and
fairly bought. And I’m still looking for a
cool period ’36. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Bonhams.)
November-December 2013
53
Comps
Lot 157, VIN: SWO8036PA
Condition: 3+
Sold at $90,750
1932 Ford Model B
“Golden Rod”
RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/9/2013
ACC# 215680
1936 Ford Model 68 Custom
Lot 804, VIN: 18316177
Condition: 1Sold
at $118,250
RM Auctions, Hampton, NH,
6/9/2012
ACC# 201847
1936 Ford Model 68
Jack Calori coupe
Lot S116, VIN: 182636987
Condition: 1Sold
at $318,000
Mecum Auctions, Anaheim,
CA, 11/14/2012
ACC# 213968

ACC
Digital Bonus
Detailing
Years produced: 1931–32
Number produced: 1,622
(all 1932 CL & CH series)
Original list price: $3,228
Current ACC Valuation:
$500k–$650k
Tune-up cost: $450
Distributor cap: $200
Chassis #: Right front doorpost
hinge
Club: Classis Car Club of
America
Engine #: Top of timing gear
cover
More: classiccarclub.org
Alternatives: Other coachbuilt
cars of its era, including
Packard, Duesenberg and
Cadillac
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
building skills, and it’s a very attractive design. The
hood line runs even with the subtly molded beltline of
the body, the rear panels around the rumble seat curve
smoothly down to the ground, and the windows disappear
entirely into the doors, which was very similar to
the Murphy-designed convertible coupe built on the
Duesenberg Model J chassis.
The initial owner of this custom-designed Chrysler
was Lincoln “Stepin Fetchit” Perry — the first AfricanAmerican
actor to become a millionaire. He performed
well into the ’70s and continued to own more than a
dozen exotic automobiles, this Chrysler among them.
The car passed through at least three additional
owners before its two-year restoration began in 1993.
During the process, the top and windshield were
lowered about three inches, giving it a more sleek appearance
than it had originally.
During the restoration, the workers discovered that
the woodwork differed on the right and left side of
the interior. The owner at the time mentioned in the
regional CCCA publication that “Bohman must have
worked on the right side of the car, and Schwartz on
the left side.”
With the restoration complete, the Chrysler CG
Imperial was presented at the 1995 Pebble Beach
Concours d’Elegance and was awarded First in Class.
The right money
As offered by RM, the 1932 Chrysler CG Imperial
wears an 18-year-old restoration that still appears
fresh and is very striking in triple-black livery. When
I reviewed it prior to the auction, it was in show-ready
condition, but judging standards are far different
today than in the mid-’90s, and the altered roof line
would create an authenticity issue in current judging
circles.
To put this sale in perspective, several custom-
bodied Chryslers have recently come to market,
including the 1931 CG Imperial Convertible Victoria
by Waterhouse that RM sold for $522,500 at their
Phoenix sale in January 2012 (ACC# 192663) and
the 1932 Imperial CL convertible coupe by LeBaron
that they sold at Amelia Island this year for $525,000
(ACC# 215656).
As such, this 1932 CH Imperial, even with its
sleeker shorter wheelbase, looks fully priced at this
money. But it wasn’t out of line, either — especially
considering its status as a “first” for the famed
coachbuilding pair and the current heated market for
distinguished CCCA Full Classics. Well bought and
1932 Chrysler CL Imperial
convertible coupe
Lot 161, VIN: 7803368
Condition: 1Sold
at $525,000
RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/9/2013
ACC# 215656
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial
convertible
Lot 214, VIN: 7802831
Condition: 1
Sold at $522,500
well sold. A
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ,
1/19/2012
ACC# 192663
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial
convertible
Lot 154, VIN: 7801063
Condition: 1Sold
at $522,500
RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/13/2010
ACC# 159900
November-December 2013
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Page 54

PROFILE RACE
1946 DREYER MIDGET
Fast, fun and frugal
Courtesy of Bonhams
Double the
sale price
would not
have been
out of the
question for
this Dreyer
VIN: N/A
by Tom Glatch
• 136-ci flathead Ford V8
• Rare Edelbrock speed equipment
• 130 hp
• In/out gearbox
• Live-axle suspension with transverse leaf springs
• Rear-wheel hydraulic drum brake
Stromberg 97 carburetors on an Edelbrock intake
manifold and Edelbrock alloy heads.
The Jahar Racing Midget is authentic and intact,
T
56
AmericanCarCollector.com
but it does need cosmetic and mechanical refreshment
before heading to the track. Best of all, it’s eligible
and competitive in both vintage oval and vintage road
racing, on dirt or asphalt.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 351, sold for $9,500,
including buyer’s premium, at
Bonhams’ Greenwich Concours d’Elegance auction
on June 2, 2013.
his Dreyer-Ford was not only a successful
racer back in the day, but New Jersey driver
John Harris successfully vintage-raced it for
decades. It comes equipped with extensive
period speed equipment, including twin
The Great Depression and Midget racing were
meant for each other. The first Midget race was held
at Sacramento Stadium on June 4, 1933, with a ragtag
group of racers. The fast little machines were built
from junkyard parts — motorcycle engines, old frame
rails and other components — and they put on an
action-packed show.
Within months, the Midget phenomenon had
spread throughout the nation. They could race
anywhere, and popular venues included the wooden,
high-banked Nutley Velodrome bicycle track in New
Jersey, Chicago’s Soldier Field, and the Los Angeles
Coliseum. Even the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena
hosted Midget action. Back then an afternoon of
racing at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles cost just 40
cents. Midgets were inexpensive to build, race, and
watch, and racing them soon became the prominent
motorsport in America.
Small cars go big-time
As Midget racing spread, and the better drivers
and car owners started earning good money, many
of America’s top race-car builders got into the game.
These were really just scaled-down versions of the
cars they built for the Indianapolis “brickyard” and

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the dirt “bullrings” across the nation, and creations
by Clyde Adams, Louis “Curly” Wetteroth, Hiram
Hillegas, and, most notably, Floyd Dreyer, soon
surpassed the junkyard specials.
Known as “Pops” or “Pappy,” Floyd Dreyer
may be one of the few men to be inducted to both
the AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame and the
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He was also
inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and
the National Midget Hall of Fame.
Born in 1898, Dreyer grew up on an Ohio farm
and started racing motorcycles in his teens, including
a stint on Indian’s team. After a serious racing accident
in 1922, he moved to Indianapolis, worked at
Duesenberg and Stutz, and started building race cars.
When he started building Midgets around 1935, he
pioneered an assembly-line process to construct the
popular machines.
Offy and Ford
As the ’30s progressed, two engines became promi-
nent in the sport. Fred Offenhauser made a scaleddown,
jewel-like 110-ci version of his famed DOHC
4-cylinder engine that won 29 Indianapolis 500 events
and numerous championships. It was powerful and
reliable — and expensive. Then, in 1937, Ford introduced
a smaller “flathead” V8, the 136-ci V8-60 — an
economic alternative to the famed 90-hp engine.
For those who couldn’t afford an “Offy,” the Ford
was a best bet. Its size and power were perfect for
Midget racing, and mechanics such as Vic Edelbrock
and Ernie Casale soon were racing them — and
forming the foundations of their performance-parts
businesses in the process.
After the end of World War II, Midget racing came
roaring back for the same reasons that made it popular
in the ’30s. But the introduction of Frank Kurtis’
tube-framed, mass-produced Kurtis Kraft Midgets in
1945 relegated the older-style rail-frame cars like the
Dreyers toward the back of the pack. “Pops” returned
to his first love, motorcycles, opening a dealership
in 1953 in Indianapolis that is still run by the Dreyer
family. He died on February 25, 1989.
A different kind of racing
In the ’70s, a stock car at my local track had this
tongue-in-cheek statement painted on its tail: “Racing
is… Fun! Relaxing! Inexpensive!” As anyone who’s
competed at even the lowest level can tell you, auto
racing is rarely relaxing, never inexpensive, and
sometimes not that much fun.
But vintage oval-track racing is different. For less
than $10k, you could have owned this car. These cars
raced many times a week, so they were built tough.
The Ford V8-60 Flathead was equally stout, and even
today is easy to maintain. Personally, I don’t think I’d
even freshen the appearance of this car much, since
the patina they developed from competition is part of
their charm. Inexpensive? Check!
Laid-back racing
There are plenty of opportunities to run these cars,
too. Unlike vintage sports cars, the oval-track cars
don’t race as such, but rather put on high-speed exhibitions.
There’s none of the bumping and banging that
went on back in their day, but the track time is exciting,
and they show today’s generation the heritage of
the modern Midget and Sprint cars.
Out East, the Atlantic Coast Old Timers Club ran
15 track exhibitions in 2013. In the heartland are the
Antique Auto Racing Association, the Midwest Vintage
Old Timers and the IMCA Old Timers. Out West
there’s the Western Racing Association, and a number
of historic tracks have their own “Old-Timers” clubs.
The track days offer the thrill of racing these machines
without the pressure or danger of competition.
Relaxing? Check!
A rarity at auction
Was $9,500 too little for a vintage open-wheel racer
built by one of the legends of the sport? A Kurtis Kraft
Midget would command more money, as would any
Midget with an Offy engine, but in August, Mecum
sold seven Midgets of various pedigrees from $3,000
to $20,000, and in 2009 they sold a Kurtis Ford for
$24,380.
Double the sale price would not have been out of
the question for this Dreyer, but the fact is that ovaltrack
cars rarely are seen at auction. Owners keep
them for a long time, and then reluctantly sell them to
other vintage-open-wheel enthusiasts. There must be a
reason for such longevity of ownership. Fun? Check!
Fun, fast and frugal. Could this be racing heaven?
And don’t forget the intangible benefit of preserving
a piece of American racing history, all for less than
$10,000. I’d call that a great deal. Well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
November-December 2013
57
1950 Hillegas Midget racer
Lot 731, VIN: 473
Condition: 2+
Sold at $16,500
Auctions America by RM, Fort
Lauderdale, FL, 3/23/2013
ACC# 215750
Detailing
Year produced: 1946
Number produced: One
Original list price: Unknown
Current ACC Valuation:
$7,500–$30,000
Tune-up/major service: $125
Distributor cap: $26
Chassis #: N/A
Engine #: N/A
Club: Atlantic Coast Old
Timers
More: www.acotnews.org
Alternatives: Kurtis Kraft
Midget, Solar Midget,
Hillegas Midget
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1950 Kurtis Midget racer
Lot 370162188868, VIN: N/A
Condition: 2
Sold at $29,995
eBay Motors, 7/7/2009
ACC# 120857
1948 Kurtis Kraft Midget
racer
Lot SP103, VIN: 035
Condition: 1
ACC# 120297
Not sold at $23,000
RM Auctions, Novi, MI,
4/25/2009

Page 56

PROFILE TRUCK
The H1’s capabilities were far
beyond the needs of everyday
drivers. Production ceased in 2006
A wolf in wolf’s clothing
2000 HUMMER H1
The Hummer
is a loud,
obnoxious
mammoth
of a machine,
and it’s
built for the
country,
not the club
VIN: 137ZA8432YE189839
by Jay Harden
of operation in today’s highly demanding
freeway-driving conditions. The GM 4-speed
automatic transmission features the Torque
Trak system to assist in difficult off-road driv
conditions. The new Electronic Differential L
system (E-Lockers) has made it virtually impossible
for the current owner to get the vehicle stuck.
T
58 AmericanCarCollector.com
58 AmericanCarCollector.com
ACC Analysis This vehicle, Lot F461, was sold
for $60,500, including buyer’s
premium, at Russo and Steele’s 13th Annual Monterey
auction on August 15–17, 2013.
For a machine so brutally honest in purpose and
design, the Hummer is probably the most misunderstood
and eagerly stigmatized vehicle in America.
Like the AR-15 assault rifle, the Hummer has come
to be seen as both a decisively American instrument
of freedom and a heavy-handed reflection of the “too
much is never enough” mantra that has so deeply
rooted itself in our national persona. Instruments of
war often struggle to find their place in civilian life
once they return home, and the Hummer is no exception.
his classic Black 2000 Hummer
H1 is powered by a GM 6.5-liter
turbodiesel engine upgraded with
a RapTorque engine-boost kit to
nearly 295 horsepower for ease
Storm the parking lot
The HMMWV, or Humvee, first grabbed the public’s
attention in the early 1990s, when images of American
glory in the sands of Kuwait began to be piped into
living rooms and schoolhouses across the heartland.
With their enormous track width, high ground clearance
and purposeful ruggedness, Humvees were the
personification of the brawn, toughness, and dedication
to the cause so proudly embodied by our soldiers.
The nation was unified in victory, and the Humvee
stood as an iconic representation of that success.
Those were powerful images, and celebrities such
as Arnold Schwarzenegger reacted to them, lobbying
voraciously for a civilian variant so they could play
tough guy on the weekends. AM General complied,
and the Hummer, as it was now being called, was first
released for public sale in 1992.
Courtesy of Russo and Steele

Page 57

ACC
Digital Bonus
Fall from grace
Seven years later, General Motors got in on the
action by purchasing the marketing and distribution
rights for all AM General-produced Hummers. In an
attempt to capitalize on the Hummer’s hero status, GM
soon put forward plans to build two new, more soccermom
friendly variations on the theme. When the new
models, the H2 and H3, were introduced, the original
Hummer was relabeled the H1.
Ironically, these two new vehicles, and the H2 in
particular, managed to incur the wrath of the average
American. Many saw the H2 as the ultimate poseur —
built on a GM truck chassis with go-anywhere looks
and go-to-the-mall capabilities, all the while getting
horrible fuel mileage. If the Hummer was a wolf in
wolf’s clothing, as was suggested in original promotional
material, then the H2 was a sheep in a cheap
coyote costume.
Unfortunately, the image of the Hummer H1 and its
exceptional athleticism got caught up in careless brand
mismanagement, overzealous Hollywood muscley types,
and the American media machine. In this era of “clean”
this and “eco” that, the broad-shouldered, alpha-male
Hummer became everything the skinny-jeaned Prius
is not. Production of the H1 ceased in 2006, and GM
killed the Hummer brand in 2009.
Whatchu lookin’ at?
If you plan on parking a Hummer in your garage,
you need to understand what you’re getting yourself
into. For starters, it’s about three feet wider than a
standard commuter car, weighs 7,000 pounds, and
gulps about a gallon of diesel for every 10 miles
covered.
It was engineered to operate outside the bounds of
proper lane changes and courtesy honks. Its 16 inches
of ground clearance trumps just about every truck this
side of Bigfoot, but, thanks to its raised drivetrain,
it is also incredibly more stable than any parking lot
cowboy’s Z-71 on boggers.
It can muck through 30 inches of water all day
long, clamber up 22-inch-high steps, tackle approach
angles of an insane 72 degrees, devour 60-degree
inclines, and traverse 40% side slopes. Perhaps most
impressive, it was designed to hold up to a minimum
of 12 years of abuse at the hands of teenage drivers.
In short, the Hummer is not a toy, nor is it a Sunday
cruiser. It is a loud, obnoxious mammoth of a machine,
and is built for the country, not the club.
In fact, its abilities are ridiculously over the top for
anything remotely related to real-world use. Calling
it showing off just seems a bit too considerate. Here’s
Detailing
Years built: 1992–2006
Number built: 11,818
Original list price: $40,500
(1992) to $150,000 (2006)
Current ACC Valuation:
$35k–$70k
Tune-up/major service:
$500-plus
Distributor cap: N/A
VIN: In driver’s door jamb,
near dash
Engine #: Top left rear of
engine block
Club: The Hummer Club
More: www.thehummerclubinc.
com
a good example: Imagine Alex Rodriguez showing up
at your annual company softball game and strutting
around the bases, kissing his biceps each time he takes
your accountant’s underhand lob deep. Similarly,
showing up in a Hummer to splash through the local
mud hole probably won’t earn you much respect,
unless you’re only there to prove you can get it stuck.
Spoiler alert: you probably can’t.
But for the buyer who truly wants to be able to go
anywhere — jungle, desert, riverbed, rock crawl, mud
pit, and the corner 7-11 — there’s no better choice.
Capability for the buck
In 2011, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale, I
happened upon a Hummer that was used as a support
vehicle for Robby Gordon’s Dakar Rally effort (ACC#
191742). It looked very much like the proverbial bull in
a china shop. Decked out with its racks and lights and
dual spares, that Hummer might as well have had a
mail-slot in the driver’s door labeled “Lunch Money.”
Apart from a top-fuel dragster, that beast was probably
the most intimidating vehicle I had ever seen. I
loved it, and so did a few bidders, as it sold for just
under $74,000.
Prices for new Hummers were once sky-high,
falling somewhere between $120,000 and $150,000
when public sales ceased in 2006. Compared to that,
the $35k–$70k that the same models bring in today’s
market seems incredibly reasonable. That’s a lot of
capability for the money.
The Hummer I saw in 2011 was well equipped,
but it had more than likely been run through the
wringer. Our example here is also fitted with racks, a
winch and rear-view camera, as well as a number of
performance upgrades. Still, it appears to have lived
a much more pampered life, and at $60,500, it is most
certainly the better pick of the two.
When you consider that a new Ford Raptor pickup
— arguably the most capable off-roader currently offered
in the American market — starts at $45,000, our
Hummer looks like a screaming deal. Sure, the Raptor
has boy-racer graphics and EcoBoost (Whew! You
can still go to Starbucks!), but if you think it’s worthy
of holding the Hummer’s beer when it comes time for a
“Hey y’all, watch this!” you probably wouldn’t know a
snatch block from a stirrup.
Regardless of why you need one of these — you’re
an adventure seeker, a Rambo or a company-softballgame
Alex Rodriguez — you can’t argue with the price
point here. Very well bought. A
(Introductory descriptions courtesy of Russo and
Steele.)
November-December 2013 59
September-October 2013
59CC
2001 Hummer H1
Lot 964, VIN:
137ZA843X1E192543
Condition: 3Sold
at $73,700
Alternatives: 2014 Ford
Raptor, 2014 Local Motors
Rally Fighter, bobbed AM
General M35 Deuce and
a Half
ACC Investment Grade: D
Comps
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/15/2012
ACC# 191742
1995 AM General Hummer
Lot 329, VIN:
137DA8430SE163192
Condition: 2-
Not sold at $31,000
The Branson Auction,
Branson, MO, 4/15/2005
ACC# 37863
1985 AM General M-998
HMMWV
Lot 72, VIN: 653
Condition: 3+
Sold at $24,225
Silver Auctions, Fountain Hills,
AZ, 1/10/2003
ACC# 29832

Page 60

MARKeT OVERVIEW
For complete results of each auction
covered in this issue, scan this code
or go to http://bit.ly/YLyfw2
TOP 10
sales this issue
1. 1964 Shelby Cobra
roadster, $825,000—AA,
p. 70
2. 1969 Ford Mustang
Boss 429 fastback,
$588,500—Mec, p. 88
3. 1914 Packard I-38
phaeton, $467,500—
g&Co, p. 106
4. 2006 Ford gT coupe,
$403,925—Mec, p. 88
5. 1934 Lincoln KB
convertible sedan,
$275,000—g&Co, p. 104
6. 1937 Cord 812 SC
phaeton, $225,500—RM,
p. 100
7. 1932 Ford Highboy
roadster, $225,000—
Bon, p. 102
8. 1934 Packard Super 8
roadster, $203,500—AA,
p. 72
9. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, $192,500—
B-J, p. 80
10. 1930 Packard Deluxe
eight series 745 Dual
Cowl Sport Phaeton,
$176,550—Mec, p. 90
BEST BUYS
1. 1959 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, $130,900—
R&S, p. 94
2. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, $97,900—
AA, p. 68
3. 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, $50,825—
Mec, p. 102
4. 1952 Buick Super 56C
convertible, $23,100—
uSAuc, p. 101
5. 1967 International R-190
dump truck, $5,250—
uSAuc, p. 107
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
1961 Chevrolet Corvette gulf racer sold for $1,498,000 at Mecum Monterey
by Tony Piff
B
etween Hot August Nights in Reno and
Monterey Classic Car Week, August is without
a doubt our busiest month of the year at
ACC. Add to that Auctions America’s new
three-day sale in Burbank, CA, and you’re
talking a whole lot of cars and a whole lot of dollars in
just a few weeks.
n n n
Overall totals for Monterey Classic Car Week
continued their meteoric rise, growing from $258m last
year to $308m, spread among five auctions. Mecum
reigns as the peninsula’s volume leader, and their
consignment list is always heavy on the domestic iron.
They sold 371 out of 677 cars for $31.4m overall. That’s
an increase from last year’s 341/570/$30.8m. A 1961
Chevrolet Corvette Gulf racer was the most expensive
American car at $1.5m, and a 1930 Duesenberg Model J
Torpedo phaeton managed to eclipse $1m, just ahead of
a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster at $990k.
n n n
Across town at Russo and Steele, three Shelbys
took the American podium: a 1962 Cobra 289 roadster
at $850k, a 1967 GT500 at $160k and a 1970 GT500
at $135k. The most expensive Corvette was a 1959
283/290 Fuelie convertible at $131k. Russo saw slightly
diminished numbers this year, with 89 cars selling out
of 215, down from 124/266 last year. Total sales dipped
to $7.1m from $8.2m, but average price increased to
$80k from $66k.
In the Roundup, you’ll find highlights from the
n n n
Barrett-Jackson found success at its first Hot
August Nights sale, selling 343 out of 345 consignments,
for a 99% rate and a combined $14.2m. A
2014 Shelby GT500 convertible charity car was the
biggest sale of the weekend at $500k. The top noncharity
lots were a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360
Fuelie convertible at $193k, a 1968 Shelby GT500 E
Continuation fastback at $165k and a 1957 Chevrolet
Corvette 283/283 Fuelie convertible at $149k.
n n n
The Roundup also includes highlights from B&T
Specialty’s second Reno sale, which takes place during
Hot August Nights but is not a HAN-sanctioned event.
n n n
Auctions America achieved an 81% sell-through
rate at their new auction in Burbank, CA. The auction
house sold 326 cars out of 403, totaling $17.3m. Bigmoney
lots included a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster
at $825k, a 1952 Cunningham C3 at $407k and a 1948
Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman at $248k.
n n n
This month’s Roundup also includes highlights from
Mecum’s Bloomington Gold auction; RM St. John’s;
Silver in Shelton, WA; and US Auctioneers’ sale of the
Del DeYoung Collection of antique trucks in Friesland,
WI. A
The biggest, busiest
month of the year
A 1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GULF RACER WAS
MECUM’S MOST EXPENSIVE AMERICAN CAR AT $1.5M
ACC 1-6 scale
condition rating
1. Perfect: National
show standard
2. excellent: Club
show-worthy, some
small flaws
3. Average: Daily
driver in decent
condition
4. Meh: Still a driver,
with some visible flaws
5. Questionable:
A problem-plagued
beast that somehow
manages to run
6. Lost cause:
Salvagable for parts
rest of the Monterey auctions: Gooding & Company
Pebble Beach, RM Monterey and Bonhams Carmel.

Page 62

Anatomy of an ACC Market Report
A HANDY GUIDE TO HOW WE RATE CARS AT AUCTION
By B. Mitchell Carlson
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. To give a better appreciation of what our auction analysts look for when they analize cars for ACC,
we like to take a specific example and give you visuals of the details. This time, we look at a 1978 Ford F-150 that sold at the MidAmerica St. Paul
auction in June 2013.
Lot number
assigned
by auction
house.
general
description
of vehicle
as observed
by reporter,
with VIN
number,
color and
mechanical
specifications
listed
first.
#174-1978 FORD F-150 Ranger XLT
SuperCab pickup. S/N X14SKBE6156.
White & light blue/Parchment vinyl & cloth.
Odo: 34,060 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
High-quality restoration is exceptionally
authentic. Paint is spot-on for original Ford
finish—good, but not spectacular. Excellent
original and NOS trim. Replated rear bumper
is canted forward slightly. Hose clamps
and modern battery can be swapped for
a show-quality engine bay. Authentically
upholstered seat, although rear bench
is all vinyl while the front split-bench has
cloth seating surfaces. Optional 400-cube
engine, dual fuel tanks, outside storage
compartment, power steering and brakes,
a/c. Cond: 2-.
A price
listed in
green
indicates
that the
vehicle sold.
A price in
red denotes
a no-sale.
Commentary
in which
reporter sums
up factors
that may have
affected the
sale and notes
whether it was
a good buy.
SOLD AT $13,230. Today, with SuperCab
and SuperCrew cabs vastly outselling the
standard cab pickups, it’s a little hard to
grasp that a SuperCab in the 1970s was
somewhat uncommon. Rather like 4-wheel
drive was a decade previous. This very
authentically restored example shows that
the 1973–79 Ford F-series trucks continue
to go nowhere but up in value. Well bought.
This symbol indicates vehicles noted by the reporter as
exceptionally well bought. Five are called out per issue.
CONDITION RATINGS Condition: ACC uses a numerical scale of 1 to 6 to assess a vehicle’s overall condition:
1. Perfect: National show standard
2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws
3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
4. Meh: Still a driver, but with visible flaws
5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run
6. Lost cause: Salvagable for parts
BEST
BUY

Page 64

AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
Auctions America — Burbank 2013
MY PICK FOR BEST VALUE WAS THE ’62 CORVETTE BIG-BRAKE FUELIE
IN TRIPLE BLACK, CRAZY CHEAP AT $98K
Report and photos
by Michael Leven
Market opinions in italics
A
fter many years and many tears,
somebody has finally broken
the code for a genuinely successful
car auction in Southern
California. The formula that
worked for Auctions America in Burbank on
August 1–3 included the following: Utilize
your abundant resources and contacts to
create the conditions for success, offer lots of
cars at no reserve, and set realistic expectations
with your consignors.
Simple, right?
The Auctions America brand surely
benefited from the full backing of parent
company RM Auctions, as all hands were on
Auctions America
Burbank, CA
August 1–3, 2013
Auctioneers: Brent Earlywine,
Mike Shackleton
Automotive lots sold/offered: 326/403
Sales rate: 81%
Sales total: $17,261,985
High American sale: 1964 Shelby Cobra
289 roadster, sold at $825,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, sold at $97,900
deck for their first foray out west. A lot was
riding on this event, as it was the first being
broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network
to a national audience. The producers even
brought in Jay Leno as a color commentator
one afternoon.
AA offered numerous cars from two
major collections eager to thin their herds
— hence the many no-reserve lots. That
certainly was a contributing factor for the
high sales rate. But while more than 81% of
Thursday’s 74 consignments were offered at
no reserve, most of those cars achieved fair
market sales prices. They weren’t being given
away. (There was a minor bargain or two
on Thursday, such as the ’30 Pierce-Arrow
7-passenger sedan in driver condition that
went for $26k, and the ’29 Ford Model A
phaeton that went for a bit over $17k.)
Friday started off with a bang, when three
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster with
automatic, sold at $825,000
66 AmericanCarCollector.com
cartoonish rebodied golf carts from the “How
the Grinch Stole Christmas” film each drove
frenzied bidding and sold for $33k, $36k and
$39k. The momentum only built from there.
The auction house did a good job parsing
out plenty of high-quality “real” cars on
Friday, such as the well-turned-out ’57 E-code
Thunderbird that was a bargain at $57k.
Come prime time Saturday, the really
heavy iron was rolling, and AA knocked off
a string of 40 wildly different cars, including
several highly desirable Full Classics,
top-drawer American muscle, European
luxury and exotics and first-class hot rods.
More than 30 of this group sold with strong
bidding. It looked like very good TV, and I’m
sure the auction house and NBC were very
pleased. Among this elite group was the best
seller of the auction, a 1964 Shelby Cobra,
one of fewer than 20 with a factory automatic
transmission. It sold for $825k.
Back on Earth, my pick for best value was
the ’62 Chevrolet Corvette Big-Brake Fuelie
in triple-black, crazy cheap at $98k. The
car I’d most liked to have bought (given my
budget) was the ’62 Ford Galaxie 406, very
well bought at $40k.
So the gauntlet has finally been thrown,
and it will be interesting to see if the next
auction in this car-crazy market can live up
to the standard now set by Auctions America.
A

Page 66

AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
CLASSICS
#453-1935 AUBURN 851 sedan. VIN:
GG2470. Gray & blue/gray cloth. Odo:
97,061 miles. From the Jim Carr Collection.
Paint cracking all over, possibly original.
Sits on modern Dunlops. Interior worn and
torn—likely not salvageable and probably
not even instructive if preserved. Headliner
is okay and will clean up. Modern fuel
gauge; all others correct and will polish up
well. Wood-grain paint on dash may come
back. Engine room dirty but will clean well.
Looks very solid, and everything is there. A
great base for restoration or thoughtful refurbishment.
Sold at no reserve. Cond: 4.
SOLD AT $38,500. Certainly worth the winning
bid for the parts alone, but it would be
criminal (pun intended) not to first research
this car’s provenance. Couldn’t be a movie
car—too expensive, and a studio would not
go to the trouble of replicating two-inch-thick
glass and the structural necessities it required.
I’m no conspiracy theorist, but this
looked like the real deal to me and I will not
be surprised if some nefarious early ownership
is “dug up.” Hundreds of thousands to
restore, but maybe worth it.
#769-1951 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible.
VIN: 516241030. Light yellow/
brown canvas/brown leather. Odo: 29,845
miles. 331-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Claimed original-miles
car. Gaps variable, trim unmarked
and shiny; abundant chrome excellent.
Paint to factory standard; only noted issue
with body is passenger’s door fit. Interior
clean, gauges bright; a couple of small
scuffs on the otherwise-solid steering wheel.
Fitted with twin spotlights. Chrome wires.
Some finishes in engine compartment may
be too shiny. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $20,350. An unloved sedan,
maybe worth $60k plus/minus when restored,
which you couldn’t do for your $40k
margin. Choices are 1) Leave it as-is, 2)
Commit to that “thoughtful refurbishment,”
or 3) Go for greatness, restore it properly,
then wait a long time to maybe get your
money back. My vote is #2. Redo the interior,
suss out the mechanicals, and hit the
road. Well sold at 25% over high estimate.
GM
#482-1936 CADILLAC V16 limousine.
VIN: 5100136. Black/gray cloth. Odo:
75,056 miles. Black paint oxidized to matte
finish; graffiti carved into fenders. Doors
held on by carriage bolts. Front bumper
mounts rotted at chassis. Multi-layer
bulletproof glass may be original (window
channels two inches wide). All glass delaminating
with three-inch portholes for gun barrels.
Bullet marks in most panes. Seats
covered in a sheet of pinstripe material.
Shift knob missing. Engine compartment
surprisingly intact. Unknown history; records
show it was ordered through Chicago dealership,
however. Cond: 5-.
Side window frame tops rusty. Soft top
soiled, interior vinyl good but filthy. Dirtybut-correct
underhood. New paint keeps car
from a 3- rating. Sold at no reserve.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $23,650. Eye-catching
from a distance, this car was the very definition
of a “fluff and buff.” Up close, it clearly
needed a lot of TLC. It could even be a really
cool cruiser if the new owner shows her
a little love and paints it a proper period
color rather than the unimaginative Resale
Red. Slightly well sold with potential for upside
with thoughtful investment.
#772-1965 BUICK RIVIERA GS 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 494475H913111. Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 88,592 miles. 425-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
auto. Top-of-the-food-chain Riviera Gran
Sport. Claimed $100k spent on resto is believable.
Lustrous black paint excellent; trim
all straight and shiny. Headlight doors work.
Chrome very well done. Deluxe interior includes
power windows and seat, electric
antenna and more. Interior silver trim mostly
very good. Gauges clean; carpets nice. Engine
bay hints at some older work; wiring a
bit messy. Some staining on engine but
mostly tidy underneath. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $107,250. Great colors and presence
on a low-mile icon of the ’50s. Another
nice car from actor Morgan Woodward’s
garage. While no longer razor-sharp, the
1998 restoration is holding extremely well;
car won Best of Show at an all-GM event in
LA in 2010. Sold beyond its $90k high estimate
but not too far above market pricing,
this car was still fairly bought for its quality
and what it provides in immediate use and
gratification.
#143-1959 PONTIAC CATALINA convertible.
VIN: 195C10662. Red/white vinyl/white
& gray vinyl. Odo: 55,244 miles. 389-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Gaps extremely variable; passenger’s
door out. Trim all there, straight,
but dull. Recent respray decent, thin in
spots and cracking around roof boot.
Chrome redone to driver level. Rubber in
decent shape; wing windows delaminating.
SOLD AT $85,250. This striking design with
the hidden lights is arguably the high-water
mark for Rivieras. No less than Sergio
Pininfarina called the first-gen Riviera “one
of the most beautiful American cars ever
built.” Gorgeous or not, this sale is a bit over
the top. The ACC Price Guide values a ’65
GS at $18k–$35k. This car previously sold
for $40k at Worldwide’s 2008 Houston sale
(ACC# 116635). There are likely few better
examples, if any, but this was still very well
sold.
CORVETTE
Black/black hard top/black vinyl. Odo:
99,906 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. One of 246 ’62 Corvettes ordered
with RPO 687: heavy-duty brakes and
steering, special shocks, brake cooling
ducts, special brake linings, finned drums
with internal cooling, dual front sway bars
and off-road exhaust. Paint to driver standard;
trim mostly straight but dull and pitted.
Interior also to driver standard. Looks clean
and correct under hood. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $97,900. This was one badass-looking
car in triple-black with poverty caps—and it
had the chops to back it up. Catalog did not
#808-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 208675108781.
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
BEST
BUY

Page 68

AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
gine controls hidden. Poor fitment of HHC
logo in grille shell recess is one of several
under-finished details. Cond: 2.
mention matching numbers, but barring
some nefarious past, this looked like a
screaming deal to me, purchased more than
$25k below the low estimate. Go ahead and
burn some rubber in celebration.
FOMOCO
#505-1932 FORD MODEL B roadster. VIN:
181267340. Black & magenta/black leather.
Odo: 3,947 miles. One of 10 Muroc Roadsters
built by Jerry Kugel, with design assistance
from Chip Foose. Fit and finish to
showfield standard. Paint absolutely
gorgeous and without fault. All-steel body
hand-formed by Marcel, Luc, and Marc
DeLay of Marcel & Sons. LS6 engine with
4L60-E automatic; Lokar shifter. Featured in
Street Rodder Magazine, multiple awardwinner.
Cond: 1-.
equipped with C4 automatic. Used as factory
demonstrator. Repainted to
local-show-standard, pock marks throughout.
Most chrome looks good; could be wellkept
original. Hood latches badly pitted.
Cracked plating on windshield frame.
Monza gas filler looks out of place, as does
Talbot mirror. Engine compartment tidy but
not detailed. Chrome wires dingy. Lots of
rattle-can black sprayed underneath. Rolling
on modern Goodyear Integrity tires.
Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $115,000. Runner-Up for
Most Beautiful Roadster at 2009 Grand National
Roadster Show. Striking car riding on
modified Dodge artillery wheels. Appraised
in 2011 at $499k, here a no-sale at $115k,
but listed online in the U.K. for £57,605
(about $90k, date unknown). While the low
bid, much less the online price, surely did
not cover the build cost, this car is no longer
fresh. Unique and handsome to be sure, but
high bid will look generous next time it’s
offered.
SOLD AT $110,000. These roadsters are
sold as unfinished rollers for $115k. Owner
chooses his own builder and equipment.
Available with or without fenders. The
poster-child if there ever was one for the old
saying, “Buy a car that’s already done.” Beyond
reproach and fully vetted, just get in
and go. Price paid here was less than the
cost of a roller, so to call this anything but
very well bought would be just plain dumb.
Not cheap, but a great value.
#785-1932 FORD MODEL B “Respect
Tradition” roadster. VIN: 1816704. Copper
metallic/beige leather. Odo: 7,306 miles. A
Hollywood Hot Rods build; multiple magazine
covers, features. Aftermarket steel
body sectioned two inches. Paint well applied
over variable prep; pock marks, nicks.
Trunk gaps wide and variable. Brightwork
nice; DuVall-style windshield. Minimalist
interior well done; Gennie shifter. Independent
rear suspension; Detroit Locker and
Franklin quick-change rear end. Period
Hemi with Hilborn injection; electronic en-
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
#519-1933 FORD MODEL B woodie
wagon. VIN: 183374192. Scarlet Orange
Candy/tan canvas/tan leather. Odo: 3,160
miles. All the right parts and beautifully assembled.
Vivid House of Kolors paint shines
bright, even under heavy tent; very well
prepped and applied. Modern wood looks to
be maple; expertly formed and finished.
Canvas top taut and well fitted; no staining
or soiling. Chrome Halibrand-style wheels a
good period accent. Crate SBC dressed in
lots and lots of chrome. Ford nine-inch puts
the power down. Leather well done and
inviting. Surfboard mounted on the roof a
nice touch. Only ding is the stark rear compartment,
which almost looks unfinished.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $825,000. For the Cobra guy who
has everything except an automatic, or for
somebody with a bum left knee who wants
to go fast. In all seriousness, a very nice car
that one could imagine enjoying on a Sunday
morning when nobody else is on the
road. Sold within the new range of 289 values
but near the low estimate of $800k.
Market priced.
#503-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback.
VIN: SFM6S485. Wimbledon White & gold/
black vinyl. Odo: 81,572 miles. 289-ci V8, 4
bbl, auto. Restored in original colors in
2008. Multi-stage paint excellent. Very slight
bleeding indicates taping of stripes not ultracrisp;
edges correctly not wet-sanded before
applying clearcoat. Trim straight and
unmarked; chrome very well done. Interior
all-new; wood wheel, clear gauges. Correcttype
Autolite battery; caulking on firewall
messy. Wearing period-correct Goodyear
Blue Streaks. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $56,100. A somewhat formulaic
build, but nicely finished, and nothing too
exotic that will overheat or leave you
stranded. This totally usable wagon will be a
source of great pride for the new owner. A
very nice hot rod at a very reasonable price.
Fairly bought and sold.
#800-1964 SHELBY COBRA roadster.
VIN: CSX2561. White/red
leather. Odo: 40,107 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. One of fewer than 20 Cobras factory-
1
SOLD AT $129,250. The restoration has
already lost that razor’s edge, but for perspective,
car is still far better than new. Very
attractive color combo classy and almost
makes up for the automatic transmission.
This was strong money for a car that is just
off its peak, but it was not out of line as
prices are still moving up quickly. Fairly
bought and sold for now, but if kept properly
will be more expensive next time.
#510-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN:
9F02R480492. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 1,417
miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. “King Cobra”
TOP 10

Page 70

OURCARS
1969 CHeVRoLeT
Chevelle 2-dr hard top
owner: Jay Harden, ACC Contributor
Purchase date: December 1999
Price: $400
Mileage since purchase: To hell and back
Recent Work: Charging problem (not fixed yet)
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
drag racer from day one; purchased from
Jerry Alderman Ford, who eventually raced
it under their own banner. Many owners
since. Paint to race-car standard; silver
painted “King Cobra” lettering polished
through in spots. Chrome okay; trim unmarked,
certainly due to low (but very hard)
miles. Interior in good shape. Sun tach and
oil pressure gauge added. Engine compartment
clean, as appropriate for a race car.
Cond: 3.
was a kid, a guy down the street had a Polo
Green T&C, and I remember thinking, “Why
is everybody making such a fuss about this
car?” Well, I’m kinda grown up after a few
decades, and now I get it. One of my favorite
cars at the auction. Probably drives like
the Queen Mary, but oh my, wouldn’t it be a
lovely cruise! Bid to $100k, this more appropriate
selling price came post-block.
this car (the term “car” is used
very loosely here) as a gift for
his son-in-law. It was a project
he didn’t want, so it became
mine. I was 19.
Over the course of the next three years,
A friend of my dad bought
I spent equal time daydreaming of sweet
burnouts, contemplating burning the whole
thing to the ground, and scrounging junkyards
and the Summit Racing catalog for a
million different nuts, bolts and fittings. It
was maddening.
I dismantled, cleaned, sanded, painted
and rebuilt every piece of this car (except the
transmission) with an occasional hand from
a couple of buddies, all while my dad supervised
from behind frosty cold brewskies.
Alright, he did turn a critical wrench or two.
Just when I couldn’t take it anymore,
Bubba barked to life through open headers.
Yeeehaaaaw!
With 250 miles on the clock, a trash bag
full of clothes in the trunk, and a pretty
girl riding shotgun, I put Georgia in the
rearview. Ten thousand miles later, Bubba
had carried me safely across 26 states. I soon
rewarded him with a heart transplant — 454
inches worth.
It was my daily driver for about five years,
and the wear and tear of excessive throttle
and rowdy buddies are starting to take their
toll. The “Needs” list is finally shorter than
the “Wants,” but my old car is a long way
from being done. I’ll call it good the day
they put me in the ground. A
Phillips screws not flush and protruding
from taillight bezels. Interior leather beautiful
and supple. Large red electrical switch
under dash visually alarming. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $130,000. Previously sold in #2
condition for $93,500 at RM Scottsdale,
where our reporter stated, “Buyer came out
ahead on this one” (SCM# 192695). When I
72
AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $75,900. An interesting piece of
regional racing history, but not sure that
conferred a premium here. During one of its
restorations, the car was made street-legal;
I think that’s where the value lies. If it’d
been campaigned by Ford stars Ronda,
Nicholson or Glidden, I wouldn’t change it.
But with all due respect to those who drove
this car in anger, it’s really just a low-mile,
never-wrecked Shelby Mustang purchased
at a GT500 market price. I say repaint it as
stock, license it and go. Its history will always
quietly be there.
MOPAR
#532-1947 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
convertible. VIN: 7403939. Newport
Blue/tan canvas/blue leather & tan corduroy.
Odo: 10,998 miles. 323-ci I8, 1-bbl,
auto. Paint very well applied over excellent
prep. Original wood refinished by noted expert;
spectacular patina. Gaps mostly good;
shut line at passenger’s A-pillar notably
wide. Rear bumper chrome crazed, all other
brightwork very nice. Heads of enormous
#485-1970 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA convertible.
VIN: BS27N0B161634. Plum Crazy/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 12,973 miles.
440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. A very nice presentation
of a desirable car with no history
provided. Most gaps good; hood/trunk lines
slightly variable. Multi-stage Plum Crazy
paint very well applied over good prep. Silver
“shaker” hood. Chrome shiny but with
waves, some bubbling. Interior mostly very
good. Dash fascia redone but looks like it
was once rough. Heavily optioned with
power top, windows, seats, brakes, a/c,
3-speed wipers and Rallye instruments.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $100,000. Catalog states,
“equipped as a 440 Six-Pack clone with
many of the most desirable features.” While
the relative transparency is admirable, what
was this car born as? A stripper 6-cylinder
Barracuda? For this kind of money you
could buy a real, 375-hp, non-Six Pack 440
and save yourself a whole lot of explaining
every time you show it. A no-sale across the
block at $95k, but showing as sold in the
final results. Well sold.
AMERICANA
8
#755-1934 PACKARD SUPER 8
roadster. VIN: 75993. Gray/black
canvas/burgundy leather. Odo: 13,232
miles. Variable gaps; trim nice but chrome
showing age with miscellaneous cracks and
scuffs. Step on rear bumper worn through
and cracked. Paint to regional show standard;
fine work but with low-level orange
peel throughout. Driver’s headlight cracked
TOP 10

Page 72

AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
YOURCARS
1993 CADILLAC Allante
owner: Nick Ferrantino, Houston, TX,
a new ACC subscriber
Purchase date: November 16, 2006
Price: $25,000
Mileage since purchase: 1,037
Recent Work: Driver’s door window switch
replaced with NOS, passenger sun visor
repaired
on top. Art Deco dash gorgeous; leather
invitingly broken in. Top taut. Engine compartment
tidy and correct but not show-detailed.
Mitchell 26% overdrive useful; car
completed 1,500-mile tour in 2012 with no
issues. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $203,500. Originally
purchased in Santa Barbara, so a
long-term California car. Very well restored
13 years ago; holding nicely but no longer
razor-sharp. Understated and tasteful colors
may sell this car a bit short. Clearly used
and loved by the consignor; new owner can
have confidence enjoying this magnificent
motorcar any way he chooses. Fairly bought
and sold at low market price.
by Indy 500 winner Bobby
Unser at the 76th Indy 500 in 1992 to
start the event. Bobby Unser was Cadillac’s
spokesperson for Allante that year. Al Unser
Jr., the 1992 Indy 500 champion, also drove
this Allante two weeks after the Indy 500 to
the opening of the new Belle Isle Raceway
track in Detroit, MI, to start the XI Detroit
Grand Prix.
For the past two years, I have taken this
This 1993 Allante was driven
all-original 1993 Allante Pace/Parade car to
the Keels & Wheels Concours D’Elegance
car show in Seabrook, TX. In 2012, Bobby
Unser was grand marshal of the event; he
was kind enough to sign the dashboard
just above the glovebox. In 2013, the grand
marshal of the event was none other than
Al Unser Jr., and I was able to get him to
also sign the dashboard next to his uncle’s
signature. Both Unsers did me a great honor
by doing so. A
#430-1951 KAISER SPECIAL Traveler
hatchback sedan. VIN: K2041959. Yellow/
brown vinyl. Odo: 3,609 miles. 226-ci I6,
2-bbl, 3-sp. Restored to good standard in
1991 and holding well. Gaps straight but of
varying widths; doors all shut with a confidence-inspiring
thud. Trim and chrome all
nice, unmarked. Paint done well, but now
with micro-blisters in several areas. Supercool
acrylic hood ornament. Interior of a
nice driver; tear in driver’s seatback the only
demerit. Dual spotlights, clear plastic steering
wheel. Gauges and switches all clear
and bright. Engine compartment clean and
correct. Cond: 3+.
steering wheel. First-year Nailhead engine;
Offy valve covers and high-rise manifold
with three Rochesters. Very tidy build.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $104,500. Used in 1954 movie
“Johnny Dark,” starring Tony Curtis and
known as “The Tiger Special,” driven by Phil
Hill. Like many such cars, it fell into obscurity.
The college student who purchased,
resuscitated and used it as a daily driver,
thought it “might be an Allard” until true
identity discovered. Current red less flattering
than period light color or white. As an
interesting footnote in Hollywood and
coachbuilding history, I’d say it was fairly
bought and sold, just over the low estimate.
SOLD AT $17,600. Slightly funky-looking
even 62 years on, the Dutch Darrin styling
must have been quite a statement in the
day. Regarded as one of the first “hatchbacks,”
with clam-shell hatch, fold-down
rear seats, and wood floor skids, it might
also be considered the first cross-over. Pale
yellow color helped soften some of the more
dramatic lines, and the car looked quite
lovely. Prices for Travelers are modest
when compared with contemporary Chevys,
but even so, this car was well bought just
under the $18k low estimate. Reserve off at
$13k.
#479-1953 BOHMAN SPECIAL roadster.
VIN: 69N747. Red/black & white leather.
Odo: 24 miles. 322-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
’50s alloy custom build on modified Ford
chassis by Chris Bohman, heir to Bohman &
Schwartz coachbuilding firm. Chrome and
trim all very good; paint marred only by tonneau
marks and few small flaws. Recently
fabricated replacement grille in aluminum.
Frameless, two-piece beveled windshield in
oversize Brooklands-screen style. Leather
seats nicely done. Stylized banjo-type wood
74
AmericanCarCollector.com
#186-1967 “BOOTHILL EXPRESS” hotrod
funeral coach. VIN: S2362703. Metallic
orange/black vinyl. 350-ci V8, auto. Body
looks to be made from wood and fiberglass.
Wood finials on coach top cracking with
chunks missing. Brass side lamps from a
hardware store. Gauges on foot-board of
open front seat. Hand brake for rear-only
drums—no front brakes. Spindle-style front
wheels very corroded. Originally with real
Hemi, current engine is later-model GM
350, but catalog addendum says, “It is fitted
with a 331 cubic inch Hemi.” Dummy blower
and stacks hide actual induction system.
Ford nine-inch rear end. Sold at no reserve.
Cond: 4-.
SOLD AT $57,750. Boothill Express was
the star of a traveling drag-race exposition
and progenitor of a wildly popular Monogram
plastic model in the ’60s (reissued in
the ’90s). This car was built “several months
after the original,” using original molds, and
was used in period on the Drag and Wheelstander
show circuit. Sold at RM Monterey
in 2010 for $88k, so seller took a loss, but
price looks right, considering that it looks
like it’s on its last legs. A

Page 74

BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
Hot August Nights Auction
presented by Barrett-Jackson
THE SEXIEST CAR IN THE CITY WAS A ’34 FORD ROADSTER NAMED
“FLASHBACK,” SOLD FOR $110K WITH A $13K CUSTOM MATCHING CHOPPER
Report and photos
by Travis Shetler
Market opinions in italics
D
uring the world-famous Hot
August Nights classic-car festival
in Reno, there are cool old
vehicles everywhere you look,
many with “For Sale” signs.
You see them at stoplights, in parking lots,
loaded on trailers and trucks, passing on the
freeways. You are simply surrounded by opportunities
to become the new owner of just
about any car you can imagine.
Barrett-Jackson
Hot August Nights Auction
Reno, NV
August 8–10, 2013
Auctioneer: Tom “Spanky” Assiter
Automotive lots sold/offered: 343/345
Sales rate: 99%
Sales total: $14,203,680
High American sale: 2014 Shelby GT500
convertible, sold at $500,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
1934 Ford custom roadster, along with a $13k custom matching bike, sold at $110,000
So with all the gearheads, cars and dollars
in one location, a classic-car auction just
makes sense — and what better fit for HAN
than Barrett-Jackson? This August, Barrett
brought their auction to Reno.
The massive Reno Convention Center
played host. The preview area was completely
enclosed, which made inspecting the cars
comfortable and convenient.
The auction generated sales of $14.2 mil-
lion. A 2014 Shelby GT500 sold for $500k,
with 100% of the proceeds going to the Brain
Injury Association of America. The highestselling
non-charity vehicle was a 1963
Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 convertible with
fuel injection. Black with red interior, the car
wore a seven-year-old frame-off restoration.
It was beautiful, perfect, enticing and sold for
$193k.
A 1961 Corvette vintage racer had beauti-
A packed house in Reno
76 AmericanCarCollector.com
ful looks and a mysterious past. It wore blue
stripes over brilliant white, with white steel
wheels and poverty caps, bumpers removed
and minimal chrome trim. Under the hood
was a Traco race motor (a fascinating story
in itself) topped with a fuel-injection unit.
The car also featured unique mounting holes
for a larger-distance racing fuel tank. That
feature, coupled with the lack of a convertible
top, suggests the car was originally used as a
GM test mule. Zora Duntov’s signature on the
trunk lid only added to the allure. One of two
vehicles offered with a reserve, the car sold
for $149k.
The sexiest car in the city was a ’34
Ford roadster named “Flashback.” It wore
Caribbean Pearl paint, came with a $13k
custom matching chopper bike and sold for
$110k. At the distant opposite end of the spectrum
was a 1979 Oldsmobile 88 Delta Royale
sedan. The $1,100 price tag for a charmingly
honest car was a better deal than you could
find on Craigslist.
Aside from the auction, the week is filled
with show-and-shines, drag racing, concerts,
a swapmeet, other auction activities and
the famed two-car-wide cruising. The main
streets are barricaded to allow three hours of
cruising each night. It’s a privilege to see the
cars in motion on public roads and hear their
various automotive rumbles and screams —
the mechanical whine of a blower, the loping
idle of a reworked cam, a blip of throttle, the
quiet burble of a relaxed American V8. A

Page 76

BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
GM
#727-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO BIARRITZ
convertible. VIN: 5762056562. Olympic
White/white vinyl/red & white leather.
365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Beautifully restored,
now starting to show minor needs.
Well optioned (full power, Autronic Eye,
a/c). One of 1,800 built in 1957. New that
year was a tubular X-frame, eliminating side
rails for a lower Cadillac. The sticker price
was $7,286—that’s $2,500 more than the
Cadillac sedan. Cond: 2.
One wheel ring with bad curb rash. Inside,
the car looks just right. Has that period GM
smell. Cond: 2.
ket. The buyer did well here for the basic
car, and with the provenance, there is additional
value. In the meantime, the new
owner has a very sharp cruiser with a businesslike
appearance that will generate appreciative
fans wherever it is driven.
SOLD AT $55,000. Sold slightly below
market and should have brought a better
price. It was solid, correct, mostly original
and verified numbers-matching. This green
machine was very well bought.
SOLD AT $110,000. The first pre-production
1957 Eldorado Biarritz recently sold for
$620k at Hollywood Wheels in West Palm
Beach, FL, earlier this year (ACC# 215884).
Very well bought—lots of upside here for
one of the prettiest ’50s Cadillacs built.
#683-1965 PONTIAC GTO convertible.
VIN: 237675B138295. Burgundy/black
vinyl/black vinyl. 336-ci V8, 1-bbl, 4-sp.
Show-car quality throughout. Stored from
1982 until two years ago, when it underwent
a $70k restoration with NOS parts. Mildly
customized for modern driveability with
brake and suspension upgrades (original
parts were retained). The paint and panels
are flawless, as is the interior. Under the
hood, the Tri-Power setup is out there for
everyone to see. Absolutely correct engine
bay. Has PHS documentation, build sheet
and original title. Cond: 1-.
#721-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124379N711180. Black/white
& black houndstooth vinyl. 302-ci V8, 2x4bbl,
4-sp. ’70s street racer with dual-quad
Cross Ram setup. Scored 994 out of 1,000
points at the Classic Chevy National meet in
2005. An X33 Norwood, OH, vehicle that
received a concours restoration. Owned by
same person for 22 years. Cond: 1-.
#383-1971 BUICK GSX 2-dr hard top. VIN:
434371H145966. Cortez Gold/saddle vinyl.
Odo: 32,091 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Looks nice but appears prepared solely for
resale. Rotisserie restoration and new interior.
Flaws noted suggest a carelessness
that one doesn’t expect to find in a rare vehicle
(one of 124 for 1971, according to the
catalog). Paint issues in hard-to-reach areas.
Interior has that wet GM smell, which
explains the seat-belt buckles swollen with
rust. Engine compartment looks right. Lots
of desirable options. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $36,300. Recently sold for
$27,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s April sale in
Palm Beach, FL (ACC# 221063). This price
was a good deal for the seller. The buyer
obtained a rare car with many new and nice
parts. It just needs more attention and finishing.
Time will allow a profit, but it may be
quite a bit of time.
SOLD AT $76,450. Well bought and sold.
The seller may be pleased, and I am confident
that the buyer is very much so. This
was well bought and will increase in value.
#19-1969 CHEVROLET CAPRICE 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 1664795140095. Black/black
vinyl/gold brocade. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Absolutely proper, one-family-owned and
always garaged Caprice with a nice repaint.
Very long right rear quarter-panel seems
wavy. The exterior chrome and brightwork
is quite nice and hard to fault. The interior
appears virtually new, as it was recently
reupholstered in correct original fabric.
Underhood inspires confidence. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $60,500. Sales price was almost
double the ACC Price Guide value range,
but this car deserved it. Seller did not
recoup his investment, but a gorgeous car
was created in the process. The buyer must
have felt the same way.
#675-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124379L502140. Rally Green/
black vinyl. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A greatlooking
Z/28 that feels like a full-sized Hot
Wheels car. The paint and body are showquality,
although I did discover a pinky-sized
hole below the driver’s side rear window.
78 AmericanCarCollector.com
#722-1971 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE convertible.
VIN: 136671L177585. Medium
blue/black vinyl/black vinyl. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Three-year frame-off restoration; every
part claimed new or refinished to factory
standards. It has a Muncie 4-speed, the
rare F41 sport suspension and a cowl-induction
hood. Visually, the car is spotless,
and save for a slightly crooked center
console, the appearance is just as it would
have been in the showroom. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $12,650. This clearly was a wellloved
Chevrolet that sold a little below mar-
SOLD AT $84,700. This car sold twice last
year for more than it brought in Reno. It
brought $99k at Barrett-Jackson in Orange
County in June 2012 (ACC# 208041) and
$85k at Russo and Steele Monterey in
August 2012 (ACC# 212889). The previous
reviewer remarked that the price was high,
but the car could not be duplicated for less,
and the same still holds true.

Page 78

BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
#1-1979 OLDSMOBILE 88 Delta Royale
sedan. VIN: 3N69R9M227514. Light
Golden Caramel Firemist/tan velour. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Original paint heavily faded
and checked on hood. Missing the proud
Oldsmobile crest hood ornament. Interior
very nice, with manual windows. Engine
compartment also very nice. Seems cared
for and not just dressed up for auction.
Cond: 4+.
convertible. VIN: E57S103873. Red &
white/red hard top/white vinyl soft top/red &
white vinyl. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8,
4-sp. A stunning Corvette from the William
Munday Collection. Full frame-off rotisserie
restoration. Paint and body are absolutely
correct. Interior is visually top-notch. Some
unanswered questions about transmission,
as the literature states that the 4-speed was
an “upgrade.” Cond: 1-.
signature on the deck lid. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $1,100. This was an honest,
mainstream, late ’70s car that hollered,
“Kids, get in the car, we have to get groceries!”
It received no love, and the comments
of passersby were not kind. No styling, collectibility,
desirability or even entertainment
value. I’d call this the 1979 equivalent of a
standard ’50s 210 sedan. A very common,
competent and comfortable car that went for
a ridiculously low price. It would have
brought more on Craigslist.
#34-1992 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS 25th
Anniversary Heritage Edition coupe. VIN:
1G1FP23E6NL143252. Red/gray cloth.
Odo: 43,660 miles. 5.0-L fuel-injected V8,
auto. A nice, lightly used, original-owner,
third-generation Camaro with factory paint,
issue-free bodywork and great trim. Some
discolored lenses in the lower spoiler, but it
is possible they left the parking lot of the
GM plant in their current state. Inside, the
interior reflects the low mileage and looks
inviting. All paperwork including service
history, build sheet and window sticker
included. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $148,500. This car no-saled at
Bonhams’ 2011 Carmel sale at an undisclosed
high bid (ACC# 184551). I thought it
should easily have topped the $200k mark,
but to get that price will require some rather
serious documentation. Extremely well
bought.
SOLD AT $148,500. A similar car sold at
RM’s Amelia Island auction earlier this year
for almost $20,000 less (ACC# 215639), so
this was very well sold, but the buyer also
did well.
#708-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: J58S100166. Snowcrest
White & Inca Silver/black vinyl soft top/
Snowcrest White hard top/Pebble Black
leather. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Beautiful color combination and built for
speed with dual carbs and hot cam from
GM. This was the first year Chevrolet made
a profit on the Corvette, and this car is a
prime example of why. The fully documented
restoration was finished in 2007.
One of 978 built in this 270-horsepower
configuration. Cond: 3+.
#690-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 20867S106862.
Black/white vinyl/black vinyl. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A good ground-up restoration
on this Tuxedo Corvette; body has
never been removed from the frame. Some
blemished trim. Interior is good. Replacement
engine is period-correct. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $58,850. The wheels and tires
have been changed, and the car has been
cleaned to a higher standard than when it
sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2009
for $73k (ACC# 119103). Nearly $15k
cheaper this time around, this was very well
bought.
SOLD AT $110,000. This car previously
sold for $99k at Barrett-Jackson Palm
Beach in April (ACC# 221124). It was very
well sold here, but given time, this price will
be fine.
SOLD AT $7,150. This price is toward the
top of the market, but the single ownership,
very good condition, originality and documentation
make it hard to find a truly comparable
car. The buyer paid a reasonable
price for a vehicle that is clearly in the 95th
percentile of existing gen-3 Camaros.
CORVETTE
#730-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
#726-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 10867S103377. White &
blue/white hard top/blue vinyl. 292-ci fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. A solid #2 for a race car
in and out, rumored to be a GM test mule
(but not documented). Traco race motor
fitted, date-code-correct block included.
RPO 687 heavy-duty brakes and suspension.
24-gallon fuel tank replaced with fuel
cell for racing. More than a dozen window
stickers declare participation in vintage racing
from Texas to Monterey. Zora Duntov’s
S102186. Black/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo:
34,247 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. Gorgeous in a rare and beautiful
color combination. Frame-off restoration in
2006. All chrome redone and polished. Every
component serviced and road-ready.
Not a numbers-matching car. Cond: 1-.
9
#719-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 30867-
TOP 10

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
SOLD AT $192,500. The highest-selling
non-charity car at the auction. Buyer purchased
one great car, but without matching
numbers, price was high.
#710-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194677S109893. Pearl
maroon/black vinyl/dark tan leather. Odo:
74,023 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. California black-plate car in unusual
color combination; dark tan interior is very
nice. Torq-Thrust mags look appropriate.
Engine compartment lightly used but a pleasure
to view. Engine labeled as period-correct,
which leaves a few questions
unanswered. Cond: 2-.
bought for love, and he should smile every
time he walks up to his new car.
#313-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 1Z37J4S437037. Yellow/black
leather. 350-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Average
low-quality repaint with the usual oddfitting
rubber nose cap. Interior is the high
point. Engine replaced by one from a later
model with a higher-performance camshaft.
One of the few cars here that looks like it
was quickly redone for resale. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $8,800. This price was below
market for a good car. If it runs out nicely,
then some attention to the paint will result in
a profit relatively quickly if the buyer desires.
SOLD AT $89,100. This car was a no-sale
at Silver’s Carson City auction not far from
here in August 2011, roughly 700 miles ago,
when the bidding stopped at $70k (ACC#
184531). I think it was well bought here, but
it would be nice to have some questions
answered.
#643-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 1Z67T3S416804. Candy Apple
Red/oyster vinyl/oyster leather. Odo: 1
miles. 350-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Mildly
customized Corvette, nearly perfect. Noted
to have one mile on the odometer following
a $150k restoration. Three-stage paint must
be among the best in Reno. Interior truly
immaculate, down to the refinished gauges
and dash. No sign of that well-worn look
usually found inside C3s. Eighteen-inch
chrome wheels a bit flashy but fit this car’s
entire vibe. Cond: 1-.
FOMOCO
#714-1934 FORD CUSTOM roadster. VIN:
181204495. Caribbean Pearl/pearl white
SOLD AT $73,700. Sold 250% over the top
of the ACC Price Guide range (especially
with a replacement motor). The visual impact
makes an over-market price understandable,
but this was really quite high.
The seller did not recoup his restoration
costs but did extremely well, and this Corvette
really was outstanding. Buyer clearly
November-December 2013 81

Page 80

GLOVEBOXNOTES BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
By Chad Tyson
2013 Dodge Charger SXT
AWD sedan
Price as tested: $35,380
equipment: 292-hp 3.6-liter V6;
8-sp auto w/E-Shifter
ePA mileage: 18/27
Likes: Attractive exterior styling — the
2011 update is still as modern and striking
as any other mass-produced road
car. Beats Audio premium speakers
pump the music (or news or standup)
loud and clear. They easily drown out the
road noise at highway speeds.
Dislikes: Cheap feeling interior materials.
Cloth seats are wide, and plastic is
everywhere.
Downshifts are harsher than upshifts.
Paddle shifters are not needed. If anything,
they get in the way when turning
the wheel through twisty-hill drives. The
platform is a tried-and-true (but dated)
Mercedes-Benz E-class setup from the
mid-’90s. It’s time to see what Fiat can
put under there.
Verdict: There’s no lack of competition if
you’re looking for a full-size car. Chevy’s
Impala, Ford’s Taurus, Nissan’s Maxima,
Toyota’s Avalon are some of the bigger
names. None of those has the performance
reputation of the Charger. But
the SXT doesn’t have a 400-horsepower
V8, and the aforementioned Japanese
cars offer the same (if not more) tech for
a cheaper price. That said, the Charger
is the only one with an optional V8 and
all-wheel drive.
The Charger SXT balances power and
fuel economy better than most cars. I
averaged 28.8 mpg on an 11-hour drive
— three hours of which were strictly city
driving. That ends up nearly two mpg
better than advertised.
Fun to drive: ½
Fun to look at: ½
overall experience: ½
SOLD AT $70,400. Sold for a price that I
doubt covered the build costs. I am confident
that the new owner is thrilled.
#85-1965 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: 5Y85Z106747. Red/white vinyl/
black leather. Odo: 62,342 miles. 390-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Two-year-old very red repaint
82
AmericanCarCollector.com
leather. Odo: 2 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
The sexiest car in Reno. This Ford drew
crowds and excitement while on display.
Named “Flashback,” this 2004 SEMA show
winner has been on the cover of Street
Rodder magazine. Sold in conjunction with
Lot 714.1, a custom chopper with matching
paint and upholstery. Both designed by Rick
Dore. Air suspension with four inches of lift
brings the trailing edge almost to the
ground. The Caribbean Pearl was sprayed
over a pearl white base and makes the
paint come alive with beautiful depth.
Cond: 1.
looks good. Interior very good, save for the
aftermarket CD player in dash. The full
wheel covers and thin whitewalls look correct,
if a bit insubstantial. Underneath the
hood, there’s a nice chrome dress-up kit
sitting atop a clean engine. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $20,900. The price was fair for
both seller and buyer. Considering the complexity
of the top mechanism, if he or she
experiences no significant problems, then
the price was slightly cheap, as these cars
will always be desirable.
SOLD AT $110,000. $35k better than it
brought at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale this
year, when it sold for $75k (ACC# 214831).
Also better than the $78k it sold for at Bonhams
Los Angeles 2011 (ACC# 190067). It
sold for $163k at RM Monterey 2005 (ACC#
70539). Transaction was excellent for the
seller; buyer obviously wanted the car and
was willing to pay above what appeared to
be the market price.
#692-1949 FORD CUSTOM woodie
wagon. VIN: 98BA236674. Yellow/tan
leather. 302-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Finished
to show-car standards. Spotless inside
and out, with lots of power options and
Vintage Air installed. There are new cars
that could not hold a candle to the custom
interior and how well it’s integrated into the
vehicle. Three-inch chop, frenched headlights
and wide steel wheels painted red
with baby-moon caps and beauty rings.
Featured in Barrett-Jackson literature.
Cond: 1-.
#648-1966 SHELBY COBRA replica roadster.
VIN: DMV857880A. Black/black & tan
leather. 510-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Replica presents
nicely with help from the color and finish.
Interior avoids much of the kit-car feel.
Mechanically built to be a contender with
lots of drivetrain and suspension upgrades.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $42,900. This vehicle would
probably cause your jaw to ache from the
constant silly grin. Very well sold above current
auction prices. The buyer is obviously
pleased as well, as the parts alone would
cover most of the purchase price, and then
there is the build time.
#649-1966 SHELBY COBRA replica
coupe. VIN: AZ292514. Black/black leather.
Odo: 800 miles. 406-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Called a “Shelby Daytona re-creation
coupe,” but it’s really just a non-convertible
Cobra—and altogether very well done.

Page 81

Paint is great. Inside, the kit-car vibe is
much stronger than Lot 648 parked next to
it. Motor deserves to be on a display itself.
Also has extensive drivetrain and suspension
enhancements. Only 800 miles since
completion. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $93,500.
Sales price was very good for the seller,
and the buyer must have agreed—well
above market for a replica. Hard to tell if
another would come close, as this one really
came together well.
#670-1967 SHELBY GT500 “Eleanor”
replica fastback. VIN: 7R02C106111.
Gray/black leather. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp.
“Eleanor” replica built on a 289 Mustang.
Great eye appeal and built well. The paint
and body are great. Inside built for business
with oversized bolsters on seats and a classic
wooden wheel. Underhood is a Cobra
dress-up kit on top of the re-cammed and
rollerized 289. Brakes and suspension reworked
as well. Cond: 2.
$60,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s April sale in
Palm Beach (ACC# 221230). I am sure it
cost more than this to build, but the seller
did well, and the buyer has a sharp Eleanor
that’s all finished.
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
MOPAR
#728-1968 SHELBY GT500 convertible.
VIN: 8T03S17884702897. Acapulco Blue/
white vinyl/black leather. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. The subject of a two-year restoration
finished in 2009. Numbers-matching drivetrain
was discovered to have been modified
by Holman-Moody with head work, cam and
lifters. Showing some wear, but a striking
vehicle, and the interior is very nice. Deluxe
Marti Report and workmanship inspire confidence.
Cond: 2.
#701-1957 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
resto-mod wagon. VIN: N5727042. Raspberry
Red & cream/light tan leather. Odo:
5,694 miles. 5.9-L fuel-injected V8, auto.
Exciting to look at and modernized with
drivetrain, interior and comfort options. Has
bit of badge delamination and a touch of
overspray, but the attention to detail was
impressive in general and evident even in
the well into which the third seat folds down.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $55,000. Recently sold for
SOLD AT $134,200. Sold almost exactly in
the middle of the $110k–$155k ACC Price
Guide range. The seller received fair money
for the car, and the buyer did well.
SOLD AT $62,700. The sales price is the
market value for this car, as there are no
comparable vehicles. Less than the cost of
building it, I am certain. There is probably
not another out there. A
November-December 2013 83

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
Mecum — The Daytime Auction
THE 902-ACTUAL-MILE 1969 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 429 — A TRULY
ALL-ORIGINAL CAR — BROUGHT A VERY STRONG $589K
Report and photos
by B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
M
$10m
$20m
$30m
$40m
$50m
0
84 AmericanCarCollector.com
ecum’s “Daytime Auction”
returned once again to
Monterey Classic Car Week
as the peninsula’s unrivaled
volume seller. Out of 677 cars
consigned, the Midwest auction house sold
371 — more than three times the number that
runner-up Gooding & Company sold. That’s
a healthy increase from last year’s 341 out of
570. Overall totals saw a 2% bump to $31.4m.
The two million-dollar American sales
Mecum Auctions
The Daytime Auction
Monterey, CA
August 15–17, 2013
Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike Hagerman,
Jim Landis, Bobby McGlothlen,
Matt Moravec
Automotive lots sold/offered: 371/677
Sales rate: 55%
Sales total: $31,422,290
High American sale: 1961 Chevrolet
Corvette Gulf racer, sold at $1,498,000
Buyer’s premium: $300 up to $5,499;
$500 from $5,500 to $9,999; 7% thereafter,
included in sold prices
Sales Total
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
An original, super-low-mileage 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 sold for $588,500
were post-block deals that almost didn’t
happen. A 1961 Corvette with Le Mans race
history initially no-saled at $1.3m, but a deal
came together afterward at $1.5m. The lone
Duesenberg at the sale — a 1930 model J
Torpedo phaeton — also squeaked its way
into the million-dollar club in a post-event
deal.
I also noted that American muscle cars
— the traditional core of Mecum’s consignments
— were in shorter supply this year in
Monterey. Perhaps the auction house was
targeting the peninsula’s foreign sports-car
crowd, as there was a higher ratio of those
cars on offer than is usual for a Mecum sale.
While there was less top-drawer muscle to
choose from, those cars consistently did quite
well. The 902-actual-mile 1969 Ford Mustang
Boss 429 — a truly all-original car, including
its long-dead battery — brought a very strong
$589k. A similarly original (but not unused)
1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 coupe
with 4-speed and a/c found a market-correct
$150k.
Vintage American trucks performed
well, such as a very correctly restored 1955
Chevrolet Cameo pickup at $46k, and a 1955
Ford F-100 at $28k.
Elsewhere on the peninsula, Monterey
Classic Car Week shoppers can find a number
of auctions clearly focusing on the foreign,
luxury and exotic consignments. It seems to
me that perhaps Mecum might fare better in
the future by aligning this sale with their core
competency of premium American muscle.
The results prove that when Mecum brings
the cars here, buyers will come from all over
the globe to get them. A
Bowtie classics wait their turn on the block

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
GM
#F147-1947 OLDSMOBILE SPECIAL 66
Series woodie wagon. VIN: 66140532.
Light beige/black leatherette/brown vinyl.
Odo: 45,298 miles. 238-ci I6, 2-bbl, auto.
Cosmetic redo and mechanical tending-to in
past 10 years. Better-quality repaint, but
wood is showing the start of some joint separation
and due for a revarnish. Cheesy
truck-stop plastic turn-signals added front
and rear. Period-accessory rocket hood
ornament with red plastic fins in good
shape. Interior wood still in very good condition.
Reupholstered seats, with modern
seatbelts up front. With optional Hydramatic
transmission, AM radio and clock. Cond: 3.
Not a show car by any means, but darn nice
for a driver, so this is a market-correct price.
#T34.1-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: F58K142812. Torch Red &
white/red vinyl & gray nylon. Odo: 4,064
miles. 283-ci fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. Optional
two-tone paint and fuel injection. High-quality
restoration approximately 12 years ago.
Stated to be an AACA award-winner, but
not stated when, where or to what level.
Also featured in a few overseas publications.
Highly detailed to concours quality
under the hood, but engine stamping block
is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Showquality
body prep and repaint off the chassis,
as the undercarriage was done as nice
as the roof. Expertly reupholstered interior
to stock. Cond: 2+.
“neat Corvair camper van.” A lot of those
folks said that it sold cheap, so who am I to
argue that point with them?
#T225-1969 BUICK SPORT WAGON
9-passenger wagon. VIN: 444669H223291.
Light gold/Parchment vinyl. Odo:
21,409 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional
a/c with climate control, plus power
front seat. Retains original Protect-O-Plate.
Newer repaint with some trim taken off.
Heavier pitting on outside mirrors, which
won’t stay in position due to weak tension
springs. New door seals, but missing the
door bumpers. Good original seat vinyl, but
like the original carpeting, shows noticeable
fading. No attempt at detailing under the
hood or on the chassis, which shows
heavier use on gravel roads. Older radial
tires and stock wheel covers. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $53,500. One of 1,460 wagons in
‘47; the original owner drove this regularly
until selling it in 2006 at 93 years young.
Pretty much the going rate for a basic
cruiser-grade wagon, as the flathead six is
working hard enough to get out of its own
way.
#F81-1956 CHEVROLET NOMAD wagon.
VIN: VC560054718. Two-tone blue/twotone
blue cloth & vinyl. Odo: 49,518 miles.
265-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Assigned Washington
state VIN tag, reusing original s/n. Repaint
is pretty good. Decent gaps, but doors
need a concerted effort to latch properly. All
door and glass seals are new reproductions.
Mostly replated or reproduction
chrome and trim. Dealer-accessory rocker
molding trim and wire-basket wheelcovers
over stock hubcaps. Tidy under the hood,
but not to show-quality. High-quality installation
of reproduction interior soft trim, showing
minimal to no wear. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $75,970. While most folks get
fixated with the new-for-’58 348 V8 truck
engine, let us not forget that the fuelie was
still an option. The reserve was lifted at
$71k, selling shortly afterwards for a generally
market-correct sale.
#T183-1962 CHEVROLET CORVAIR
Greenbrier van. VIN: 2R126S109746.
Tangier Gold/gold vinyl & rainbow nylon.
Odo: 94,116 miles. 145-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp.
Original paint holding up well for 51 years of
use. Side marker lights added. Older bumper
replate. On day two of ownership, a
custom camper interior was made for it:
wood cabinets, dining booth that folds into a
bed, custom shelf drawer for a picnic cooler,
110V outlets (connected to grid via extension
cord) and countertop space. Also fitted
with a pop-up roof insert. Excellent original
front seat. Motor replaced at 64,078 miles.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $10,000. While based on the
Skylark A-body platform, the Sport Wagon
was a stand-alone model during this time. If
this roof-windowed wagon was an Olds, it
would be a Vista Cruiser. We’ll just call it a
decent car for decent money.
CORVETTE
#T162-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 20867S108454. Ermine
White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 70,454
miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Claimed to wear “90% original paint.” Well,
at least the jambs have original paint on
them, with discoloration from age and contact
with the door seals. Mix of original and
repro brightwork. Poor door fit. Soft top has
damaged weatherseals throughout, but the
replacement vinyl is still good. High-quality
older engine-out detailing, but is starting to
unwind. Air intake plenum hose is falling
apart. Good reproduction interior soft-trim
installation, showing minimal wear. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $58,850. While Tri-Five Chevys
have seesawed in price over the past few
years (as their key demographic is either
downsizing their lives or is no longer alive),
Nomads seem to be holding on well. This is
helped by the continuing interest in wagons.
86 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $9,500. To all those consignors
parading their immaculately restored
23-window VeeWee microbuses, take that!
This generally original Greenbrier got a lot
more buzz out here than those yuppified
hippie vans. I’m not saying this as the resident
Corvair loony; I’m saying this because
as the resident Corvair loony I had all kinds
of folks out of the blue ask me if I saw that
SOLD AT $72,760. Last seen at the Branson
auction in April 2009, then a no-sale at
$45k (ACC# 120105). Some things have
been tidied up since then, but others

Page 86

MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
popped up. One would hope with the generous
price that it’ll go to a loving home and
get a few things nursed back into shape.
#F173-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 30837S120306. Ermine
White/red vinyl. Odo: 57,081 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Copy of dealer’s
form shows that’s it’s configured as when
sold new at Rudolph Chevrolet of Phoenix,
AZ. Mostly original, including paint and interior;
the former is not aging gracefully, with
body seam broadcasting and some paint
also lifting over those areas, plus with some
cracking at body character lines. Retains
original dealer’s sticker above rear plate.
Good, mostly original brightwork. Light interior
wear. Tidy and correct underhood, with
an engine repaint. Factory a/c and tint
glass. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $27,820. When “Effies” first came
into vogue in the early 1970s as a specialinterest
vehicle, one of the first things to do
was yank the competent-but-boring 223
6-banger and put in a “proper” V8—Ford,
Chevy, Mopar—heck, even Packards in a
few instances. Forty years later, the trend
continues unabated, with the occasional
Toyota Tundra V8. As such, a lightly modified
example with its original six is somewhat
unique, and in the era of $3.79/gallon
gas, not as lame as it seemed 40 years
ago. Fair deal on all sides here.
#F12-1969 FORD F-100 Ranger pickup.
VIN: F10HKF90212. Cordova Orange &
white/butterscotch & white vinyl. Odo:
14,614 miles. 390-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Betterquality
repaint in recent years. Mostly good
original brightwork, modern chrome rear
bumper. Halogen headlights. Good door
and panel fit. Non-stock pleats on the recovered
seat, but workmanship is quite
good. Mismatched dash woodgraining; hazy
gauge. Aftermarket alloy wheels. Dealerinstalled
optional a/c, power steering and
storage compartment under bed. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $149,800. During the 1960s, full
tinted glass was all but a mandatory option
if a/c was ordered, in order to help out the
early a/c systems as much as possible. (It’s
not surprising that many of the 278 factory
air cars were sold in Arizona.) While the
price seems high, only a higher-horse engine
would make this Survivor-grade SplitWindow
with air in good colors more
desirable.
FOMOCO
#T102-1955 FORD F-100 pickup. VIN:
F10D5R20860. Yellow/tan cloth. Odo: 879
miles. 223-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Stated to have
had a body-off restoration in recent years,
but retains the original drivetrain from the
water pump to the differential. Lightly
spiffed-up motor. Prudent modifications include
new wiring harness and electric windshield
wipers. Nice clean repaint is darn
close to original ’56 Ford Marigold Yellow.
New high-gloss bed floor wood and tonneau
cover to protect it. Squeaky-clean chassis.
Good workmanship on tufted pleated seat,
matching door panels and headliner. Hidden
modern sound system. Cond: 2-.
dead as a brick) Autolite battery. Light chipping
on some panel edges on the original
paint. The original window sticker—still
glued to the driver’s door glass after Kar
Kraft put it there—confirms that it came with
what it wears. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$588,500. Story goes that shortly after the
original owner paid retail-plus for it, he was
off on a business trip. Dad got home as Junior
was starting to unbutton the motor to
install a solid-lifter cam and banished him
from ever touching it again. Back it went
into the garage until 1981, when future MCA
Judge Bob Perkins purchased it, put the
motor back together, lightly detailed the
bare-metal fasteners and left it as-is. As
have all subsequent owners. Over-the-top
money, but find another.
Blue & Epic Orange/black leather. Odo: 6
miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. Sold
new by Steve Baldo Ford of Niagara Falls,
NY, with optional Heritage Package and
McIntosh sound system. Completely original
car that has never been dealer-prepped.
Still retains all shipping and inspection tags,
including “Do Not Open” tags over panels
that are to be left sealed by the shippers.
Even retains the factory job and rotation
tags on the windshield. All shrink-wrapped
interior components are still untouched.
Graphics kit still sealed. Two eraser-sized
degassing bubbles on engine lid. Cond: 1-.
4
#F151-2006 FORD GT coupe. VIN:
1FAFP90S26Y401299. Heritage
SOLD AT $18,725. As I alluded to in my
“Cheap Thrills” column in ACC #9, Ford
pickups remain a good buy. However, this
price foreshadows the change that is coming.
As pickups continue to move up in
value, higher-quality restorations like this
one will become more cost-effective. If they
tickle your fancy, you’d best get one while
they are still under the money.
159789. Black Jade/ black vinyl. Odo: 902
miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Kar Kraft #
1354. Completely original. Discovered with
902 miles on it in 1981, when first acquired
by a collector, and has not turned a wheel
under its own power since; engine hasn’t
even turned over since then. Part of the
reason is that it still has its original (and
2
#F118-1969 FORD MUSTANG
Boss 429 fastback. VIN: 9F02Z-
SOLD AT $403,925. GTs were only sold by
dealers who won the President’s Award in
the respective model year of production. Or,
if a dealer won in 2004 but not in 2005, they
couldn’t get one in 2005. However, dealers
tend to trade or sell amongst themselves
frequently. GT values were flat for about a
year, but soon started to escalate. This is
one case where the “instant collectible”
myth actually came true.
MOPAR
#F232-1952 DODGE M37 fire truck
pickup. VIN: 80031519. Red/black vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 80,031,519 miles. 230-ci
I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Converted into a Department
of Forestry brush-fire truck, mostly through
red paint and black vinyl seating and top
replacing the Olive Drab after it was
demil’ed. Fitted with modern NATO-spec
tires on the stock multi-piece wheels and
modern front lockout hubs. Appears to
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
QUICKTAKE
1964 Ford Falcon hard top
In a world of high-dollar muscle cars, imports, resto-mods and full CCCA
SoLD at $17,120
Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, August 15–17, 2013, Lot T173
classics, occasionally a world-class restoration finds its way to a humble two-door grocery
getter.
This Falcon sold at the Mecum Monterey auction on August 15 for the nifty sum of $17,120,
including the buyer’s premium.
It was reported to have been the recipient of a full 100-point concours restoration, and it
certainly looked the
part. The car was
finished in Wimbledon
White over red, looked
great, stood tall, and
was a factory-built
Futura hard top. So far,
so good.
Power came from
a well-detailed little
170-ci 6-banger. Not
a deal-breaker, but it
certainly limited the
valuation since it’s
not sporting a spunky
V8 powering the two-
wheels out back. Other options included a slushbox on the column with a “friends and family”
vinyl bench seat.
This car was obviously a love-affair restoration, as there is simply no financial benefit to
restoring a car like this to such a high standard — unless you enjoy toasting $100 bills. Now,
I’m not knocking the fellow who glorified this car — to each his own — and I offer high kudos
to the preservation of automotive history. Cars like this deserve a space in a collector’s garage
too. But, it’s safe to assume that the cost of restoration far exceeded the selling price by a wide
margin.
Regardless of Price Guide values, I personally think the car was fantastic, and for $17,120,
both the buyer and seller should be pleased. That said, let’s hope the new owner resists the
have been repowered by a civilian version
of the 230-ci motor. Economy mini cargo
straps used to tension the top between the
windshield and the upper rear top frame.
More trophies than fire-fighting gear in the
pickup box. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $38,520. A
lot of M37s ended up reallocated to local
fire departments. In fact, today this is one of
the most common ways to find an M37.
(Sorry, none are new in crates in a government
warehouse somewhere.) Originally a
no-sale at $26k on Thursday; I figured that
was the end of the world for it until it left the
block on Friday.
AMERICANA
10
phaeton. VIN: 185899. Eng. # 187369. Silver
& maroon/tan cloth/brown leather. Odo:
33,294 miles. Titled off engine number. Restored
approximately 20 years ago. Appearances
at Meadow Brook in 1993, the
Packard Centennial in 1999 and 2006 Packard
Club National Meet. Judging scores not
stated, but at least it was invited. Paint and
chrome still brilliant. Discreet turn signals
added atop the bumper brackets. Water
staining on the top. Recent cleanup under
the hood, but getting greasy and rusty on
the chassis components. Light interior wear.
Cond: 2-.
#S186-1930 PACKARD DELUXE
EIGHT series 745 dual-cowl sport
temptation to drop a Ford 302 crate motor down the hatch. Sorry, I had to plant the seed. A
— Dale Novak
SOLD AT $176,550. The 4-speed was
something of a novelty in American luxury
cars at this time. It was unique to the 745
series and was a nod to the Europeans who
used 4-speeds. However, the gearing was
not the best spaced; but more than that,
American preferences in this era of mostly
straight-cut gears and no syncros was for
motors with wide torque bands, for as few
shifts as possible. Originally a no-sale on
the block at $140k, but a deal soon came
together.
90
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
#S47-1951 FRAZER STANDARD
Vagabond sedan. VIN: F515001802. Indian
Ceramic/beige leather. Odo: 75,786
miles. 226-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Generally good
quality color-change repaint in a 1949–50
Kaiser convertible-only color, as it was
originally Blue Satin. Pitting painted over in
places. Light ding on top of left front fender.
All chrome replated to show-quality. Driver’s
rear door converted to being functional,
rather than bolted shut from new with the
spare-tire mount. Reupholstered in nonstock
leather. Interior wood refinished and
replaced as needed. Excellent, correct
detailing under the hood. Cond: 2.
QUICKTAKE
1978 Lincoln Continental
Mark V
American luxury cars from the 1970s are gaining respect in the collector
SoLD at $37,450
Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, August 15–17, 2013, Lot F114
SOLD AT $28,890. The consignor kept referring
to it as a “Kaiser Frazer,” but it’s truly
a Frazer—built by Kaiser-Frazer, but sold in
the last year for Frazer as a stand-alone
brand. Reserve came off at $25k, for a reasonable
deal for both parties, even if the
consignor likely has a bit more into it.
#S177-1954 INTERNATIONAL R-140 4x4
woodie wagon. VIN: R1404X4130787.
Black Canyon Black & wood/black leatherette/
brown vinyl. Odo: 63,958 miles. 240-ci
I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Per the Line Setting Ticket,
upfitted by IH off the assembly line with the
Tulsa winch before shipped to Mid State for
installation of the body; then shipped to Minot,
ND, for delivery to the Army Corps of
Engineers location at Riverdale, ND. Restored
over a decade ago, minimal use
since. All original wood; repairs where
needed carefully blended in. Better paint
quality than original. Minimal wear on the
reupholstered seats. Modern trailer hitch.
Cond: 2-.
market. The uncontested leader of this group has been the 1971–76 Cadillac Eldorado convertible,
but the Lincoln Mark series — and especially the last of the big Luxobarges, the 1977–79
Mark Vs — have been
making marked (pun
intended) increases in
values over the past
few years.
Purchased new
from Tom Barros
Lincoln-Mercury of
Spokane, WA, by a
lady owner, this car
was rarely used. She
kept it until her dying
day; beyond that,
her family kept it in
her garage until they
were forced to sell her
house. It had only 935 miles on the clock when it appeared at the Mecum Monterey auction.
Aside from the miles and excellent preservation, this was a rather average Mark. First and
foremost, it was equipped with the optional 460-ci V8. This was reportedly one of the reasons
she bought this car — her “regular driver” Mark III had a 460 and she loved it, and 1978 was
the final year it was offered in any car. That also rings true with most Mark V enthusiasts —
the near bullet-proof 460 commands a premium over the standard 351M-based 400-ci V8.
Other options fall into the realm of normality with these cars — AM/FM/Quad-8 sound
system, cruise control, Illuminated Entry system, dual exhaust (available only with the 460),
and cast aluminum “turbine” wheels.
But factors such as the original Michelin X tires on said wheels, all the original inspection
tags and markings under the hood and on the chassis, the original exhaust system, plus all
documentation make this not only a near-instant Senior or Preservation Class award winner in
LCOC or AACA judging as it sits, but easily a Survivor Show shoo-in. So it’s not only appealing
to Lincoln enthusiasts — it checks off all the boxes for general car collecting, too.
For the most part, the remaining fleet of Marks now consists of well-cared-for “grampamo-
biles” or preserved collectibles like this one. Previous to Monterey, only a 1978 Diamond
Jubilee edition, a 1979 Bill Blass Designer Series, or final hurrah Collector’s Edition with this
few miles would crack the $20k barrier, and then not by this much. But the market is moving
here. If you’re interested, you’d better jump on board now, because the boat to get one of these
while they’re still affordable is starting to leave the slip. A
SOLD AT $149,800. One of three identical
trucks bought by the Corps of Engineers
during the time frame of Garrison Dam construction
on the Missouri River. Surprisingly,
all three trucks still exist, with two restored.
Its brother was last seen at RM’s Arizona
auction in 2009, reportedly sold for $143k.
This truck was used to help restore it, so
we’ve pretty much established the value.
A
November-December 2013
91
— B. Mitchell Carlson

Page 90

RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
Russo and Steele Monterey
MOST OF THESE VERY NICE CARS SOLD BETWEEN $25K AND $75K,
WHICH COUNTS AS “AFFORDABLE” IN MONTEREY
Report and photos
by John Baeke
Market opinions in italics
pletely intentional. The cars drive across the
auction block with bleachers rising up on both
sides. Attendees are encouraged to come right
on down and inspect the goods, as auctioneer
and ringmen whip up the energy and the bids.
Housed under a tent near downtown
T
$10m
$2m
$4m
$6m
$8m
0
92 AmericanCarCollector.com
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf, the annual
Russo and Steele
13th Annual Monterey Auction
Monterey, CA
August 15–17, 2013
Auctioneers: Rob Row, Jeff Stokes,
Frank Bizzarro
Automotive lots sold/offered: 89/215
Sales rate: 41%
Sales total: $7,111,825
High American sale: 1962 Shelby Cobra
289 roadster, sold at $850,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
Sales Total
1959 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 Fuelie convertible, sold at $130,900
three-day event has carved its own niche in
this highly competitive auction weekend.
Russo continues to focus mostly on
post-war sports cars, customs and muscle,
with a sampling of racers, pre-war classics
and special-interest cars to keep bidders on
their toes. Most of these very nice cars sell
for prices between $50k and $100k, which,
during Monterey Classic Car Week, counts as
“affordable.”
Drew Alcazar, John Bemiss and company
did a masterful job of consigning some
important, impressive cars, such as a 1969
Mustang Boss 429 (not sold at $231k); a 1969
Chevrolet COPO Camaro (sold at $113k); a
sweet resto-mod 1935 REO pickup ($110k); a
1957 Ford Fairlane Bonneville record-setter
(not sold at $66k); and a supercharged,
factory-race-prepped 1957 Studebaker
Golden Hawk ($75k).
The “block-long station wagon” category
included a 1959 Ford Country Squire
resto-mod ($31k); a restored two-door 1958
Mercury Voyager (not sold at $50k); and a
completely original 1968 Chrysler Town &
Country (not sold at $36k).
The top American lot was a 1962 Shelby
Cobra 289, sold at $850k. The car had an
early engine swap, but it was done by Shelby
American, and its competition history and
race-ready condition ensured its strong price.
That big sale, combined with many
more big sales, pulled the average sold
price up $10k from last year to nearly $80k,
reconfirming Russo’s long, bright future in
downtown Monterey.A
he Russo and Steele auction scene
looks a lot like the organized chaos
of the New York Stock Exchange
trading floor. It’s raucous, busy,
a little bit theatrical and all com-
1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, not sold at $269,500

Page 92

RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
GM
#S626-1930 CADILLAC SERIES 353
coupe. VIN: 510930. Black & blue/black
leatherette/beige wool. Odo: 1,677 miles.
Very solid V8 Cadillac, showing an older,
but handsome, restoration. Odometer reading
likely incorrect. Black-and-blue exterior
with red pinstriping has multiple small chips,
likely due to miles of touring enjoyment.
Gray mohair upholstery holding up very
well. Top in good condition. Rubber showing
wear and age. Body fabric welting coming
loose in places. Brightwork in need of
polish. Visually appealing Bakelite shift
knob. Engine and undercarriage in need of
better detailing. Cond: 2-.
both inside and out. Modern striping on side
looks out of place. Aftermarket radio and
gauge cluster. Biggest detraction is the
heavy water-staining on the headliner—
causing worry about the source of the leak.
Cond: 2.
Plastic bits show UV damage. Undercarriage
needs attention. Driver-quality.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $15,125. The turbocharged engine
with manual 4-speed makes this one of
the more desirable Corvairs, but the customizations
limit the market appeal. This
looked well sold.
SOLD AT $88,000. Extremely handsome
and appears very solid, and if the engine is
in similar condition, should provide miles of
enjoyable touring. This car has all appearances
of being turn-key ready for any local
show-and-shine. Both buyer and seller
should be quite happy.
#F414-1960 BUICK INVICTA convertible.
VIN: 6G2014721. Titan Red/white vinyl/red
& white vinyl. Odo: 15,500 miles. 401-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Nicely restored Buick. Exterior
Titan Red paint very nice. Brightwork in
need of buffing. Interior with very good quality
restoration of seats, dash and gauges.
Cond: 2.
#F412-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 237375P350687. Tiger Gold/black vinyl.
Odo: 49,635 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. PHS-authenticated numbers-matching
’65 Goat. Owner reports recent ground-up
restoration. Tiger Gold paint in good condition,
but body gaps are troubling. Original
389 motor and automatic tranny, with high
level of engine-bay detailing. However,
upholstery, console and dash are of lesser
quality. Seat springs need to be redone.
Aluminum sill plates, console trim and dash
all-original unrestored, which means dings.
New Redline tires wrap original Rally I
wheels. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $112,750. The boys in the Central
Office must have been scratching their
heads why someone would special-order
this meant-for-racing beast, then check the
automatic tranny box. Clearly an example of
why rarity does not always equal desirability.
Add to the equation average-condition
interior, and one can appreciate the value
“COPO” adds to an otherwise $40k Camaro.
#S619-1984 PONTIAC FIERO IMSA racer.
VIN: N/A. White, black & red/black fiberglass.
354-ci fuel-injected V8, manual. Legitimate
factory-supported Huffaker Fiero
racer with Spice components. Great provenance.
Body solid, but with too many surface
cracks to count. Interior clean and
appears ready to pass any SCCA tech inspection.
Unfortunately, the super-desirable
Pontiac Super-Duty 4 race motor has been
replaced with a NASCAR V8 for beefier
power. Makes intimidating sounds unexpected
for a Fiero. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $26,950. While it’s too bad the
original owner didn’t check the manualtransmission
box, this was still an excellent,
honest muscle car, and the cosmetic restoration
was totally appealing. Both buyer and
seller should have left Monterey happy.
SOLD AT $34,100. The ’60s Buick Invicta/
Electra/LeSabre convertibles were cool—
Batman cool, with wings both front and rear.
This car’s dash was full of gee-whiz widgets,
such as the “Mirro-matic” speedometer.
This car was bought at market-correct
price, and will likely continue to appreciate.
#TH211-1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR
Monza coupe. VIN: 309270115705.
Red/black vinyl. 145-ci turbocharged H6,
4-sp. Very nice restoration with a modest
number of modern upgrades. Minor paint
chips and surface scratches on brightwork,
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
#S671-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
COPO coupe. VIN: 124379N650676. Rally
Green/black vinyl. Odo: 12,069 miles. 427ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Canadian-delivery legitimate
COPO Camaro restored some time
since 2000 in original green. Paint and
chrome in good condition. Engine bay not
available for inspection. Nice authentic (but
non-original) rosewood steering wheel.
Rare automatic tranny on center console.
Interior condition suggests something more
than the 12,000 miles on the odometer.
Seam and welting separation. Rubber seals
cracking. Gauges in need of restoration.
SOLD AT $60,500. Always difficult to value
race cars, where replacement parts are the
rule rather than the exception. And unlike
conventional collectibles, poor condition can
be evidence of legitimate history. This car,
with much battle damage and proven victories
in IMSA, T/A and SCCA—on its third
engine—was well bought for a track-ready
weapon with a rich past.
CORVETTE
#S639-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: J59S108198. Red/
red hard top/red leather. Odo: 27 miles.
283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Scored
99.7 at Bloomington Gold in June 2011 and
98.9 at NCRS Nationals in July 2011. Excellent
paint, interior and engine bay. 27 miles
BEST
BUY

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
since restoration seems more like 0.27,
based on the condition. Cond: 1-.
marks and water spots the only criticism,
and that is being hypercritical. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $130,900. Rumor has it the 3/10
point penalty was due to the spare tire being
underinflated by 1 psi. Another condition
1- ’59 Fuelie sold for $149k at Auctions
America’s Spring Carlisle sale in April,
which we called “well bought” (ACC#
216213). That makes this look like an
excellent purchase.
#F429-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 30837S102710. Navy blue/
black leather. Odo: 73,388 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Appears to be in
mostly original, unrestored condition—which
is quite qood for 73k miles. Exterior navy
blue paint shows surface imperfections only
visible from arm’s distance. Rims are
chipped. Window molding no longer aligns
evenly. Interior seating, gauge cluster and
console applique show most of the car’s
wear. Engine compartment indicates a recent
repaint but is begging for a better detailing.
Undercarriage needs attention.
Heavy patina on spinner caps. Overall a
driver-quality ’63 ’Vette. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $112,500. One has to wonder
how Mark IIs came to receive the beautiful
chrome flex exhaust pipes (seen peeking
beneath the front fenders) when its designer
Gordon Buehrig is known to have intensely
disliked the same pipes on his beloved 812
Cord—a design credited to 21-year-old Alex
Tremulis, for whom Buehrig had little regard.
This car could have been driven
straight over to Pebble. It certainly broke
new ground for a Continental Mark II, but
who can argue with paying a record amount
for a near-perfect specimen?
#TH236-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner
retractable hard top. VIN: D7RW178080.
White & black/black retractable hard
top/white leather & black fabric. Odo:
14,516 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very
nice restoration of a complicated machine.
Has a few scattered paint, chrome, dash
and upholstery flaws, but overall condition is
not far off from a #1. Missing plastic reservoir
cap. Cond: 2+.
the top in the semi-open position, which is
about the only manner to assure a buyer
that this incredibly complicated mousetrap
actually works. Seller should be pleased.
#F418-1959 FORD GALAXIE Country
Squire 9-passenger resto-mod wagon.
VIN: H9RY190184. Black & woodgrain/red
vinyl & cloth. Odo: 17,120 miles. 352-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Black-plate California car with
new 352 Interceptor V8 and other suspension
upgrades expertly done to preserve the
original exterior appearance. Interior also
nearly flawless, with an eye for originality.
Small paint chips and some surface imperfections
are the main flaws. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $30,800. For the same price as
some NHTSA-regulated mini-van, this Galaxie
can haul the little-league team, deliver
a stack of sheet rock or take a trophy at the
local show-and-shine in true style—and with
the reliability and comfort of modern power.
A perfect blend of restoration and modern
upgrading. Well bought.
SOLD AT $57,200. If you could own only
one ’Vette, the Split-Window coupe might
be it. If you’re also on a budget, here is your
car. Many flaws would not be tolerated in a
restored car, but in a surviving original, it all
only adds to the charm. The 4-speed more
than makes up for the base 327 engine.
Market-correct price. High fives to the buyer
and seller.
FOMOCO
#S673-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II coupe. VIN: C56E2989. Maroon/
white & red leather. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Superb restoration. Exterior maroon
matches the conservative styling of the
body. Entire interior displays high-quality
workmanship and materials. Scattered swirl
96 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $39,600. Skyliner prices have
languished for several years. Applause to
anyone brave enough to take on a full restoration—miles
of electronics make it an expensive
undertaking. If the top functions as
good as it looks, this was well bought.
#F469-1958 FORD FAIRLANE Skyliner
retractable hard top. VIN: H8RW144900.
Red & white/white retractable hard top/red
& white vinyl. Odo: 85,058 miles. 352-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Skyliner retractable with several
special features: twin spotlight mirrors; Continental
kit; chrome spokes and Vintage Air.
Appears to be an older restoration. Paint
and brightwork with blemishes. Dash in
need of a little detailing; trunk in need of
major detailing. Engine bay fair. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $52,250. The second of two Skyliners
at Russo. The high price paid for this
’58 is best explained by the accessories.
The owner had the car displayed with
#S647-1966 SHELBY GT350 fastback.
VIN: SFM6S286. Blue & white/black vinyl.
292-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Race car with all the
usual scuffs and dings. Extensive upgrades
all designed for the singular purpose of going
fast and loud. Originally a street Shelby,
it now has had all the superfluous items
removed and necessary upgrades, including
crash protection, suspension, fuel cell,
seats, etc. Engine is a Boss 302 main block

Page 96

RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
destroked to 292 ci. No reserve. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $84,700. The owner has likely
invested much more than the gavel price in
getting this Shelby race-ready. If the car
had real race provenance, and had not
started life as a street-legal Shelby, the final
price would have been higher. New owner
gained entry into many vintage events at a
reasonable price.
#F440-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
VIN: 67400F2U00842. Nightmist Blue/
Parchment vinyl. Odo: 53,845 miles. 428-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Lightly restored numbersmatching
GT500 in extremely attractive
blue-and-Parchment color combo. Some
external paint issues, most notably about
door panels. Interior brushed aluminum,
dash, gauges, wooden steering wheel and
8-track all quite nice. Engine and bay all
done to nice standard. Cond: 2-.
The increased value should pay for all that
fun. Well bought.
MOPAR
#F425-1968 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
wagon. VIN: CE46K8C224196. Black
& woodgrain/blue vinyl. Odo: 89,922 miles.
440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Magnificent surviving
original. Unusual but very attractive color
combination. Paint and wood in remarkable
condition, considering odometer reading of
90k miles. Dash vinyl with none of the
cracks typical for cars of the ’60s. Engine
looks equally well cared for. Cond: 2.
leather. Odo: 1,724 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Beautiful, stock-appearing REO
pickup resto-mod. Wooden bed, metal panels
and paint all in superb condition. Exterior
paint color combination period-correct.
Gaps and chrome all better than factory.
Very nice upholstery; again, period-correct.
Undercarriage shows expert conversion.
Modern electricals nicely hidden from view.
Incorrect vintage Buick turn indicators on
fenders are a curious oversight. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $159,500. In this writer’s opinion,
the ’67 GT500 is the one to have—it offers
the best combination of style and power.
This example has won multiple awards in
spite of some notable cosmetic flaws. Gavel
price was at top of market, but value should
continue to appreciate. Both buyer and
seller did well.
#S641-1968 SHELBY GT350 convertible.
VIN: 8T03J18031902886. Red/white vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 38,356 miles. 302-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Driver-quality Shelby convertible
with too many cosmetic issues to count.
Chips and orange-peeling on paint, scuffs
and dents on brightwork. Gaps either touching
or too wide. Top wrinkled. Interior vinyl
also wrinkled and carpet pulling away. That
all said, looks fabulous from 10 paces.
Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $36,300. American luxowagons
from the 1950s to 1970s are finally
receiving their overdue recognition. This
one was a delight to the eyes. Final bid
likely market-correct, but seller may be
rewarded for holding out in the long term.
#S653-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA
2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B201104. In
Violet/black vinyl. Odo: 53,057 miles. 426-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Beautifully restored, numbers-matching
Hemi ‘Cuda, heavily optioned
with shaker hood in a highly desirable color
combination. California car with single ownership
through 2008. Paint condition better
than new. Panel gaps and interior quality
consistent with standard 1970s Mopar.
Comes with original build sheet. Galen
Govier-certified. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $110,000. Owner states this is
the only ’35 half-ton in known existence.
Engine, suspension, drivetrain, cooling, a/c,
electrical were all modern but done tastefully,
so as not to detract from the vintage
beauty and history. Based on the constant
crowd surrounding this gem, there was
never any doubt this truck was not returning
home. Possibly the finest resto-mod truck at
any of the Monterey auctions.
#S628-1957 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN
HAWK coupe. VIN: 6I03090. Black/beige
vinyl. Odo: 590,000 miles. 289-ci supercharged
V8, 3-sp. Reportedly one of four
blown 3-speed coupes built for racing. Extensive
frame-off restoration. Beautiful Midnight
Black paint with anodized gold wings
and a McCulloch supercharger. Paint, panel
fit, upholstery and undercarriage done to a
standard likely better than this race car previously
would have known. Still retains its
California black plate. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $82,500. This car’s condition is
exactly what made it so wonderful—how
many legitimate 4-speed Shelby convertibles
would you dare drive hard, kicking up
gravel in the process, or take to the beach,
exposing it to some salty spray? This car
will allow the new owner those guilt-free
luxuries; and when he is finished, restore it.
98 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $269,500. This nearly has it
all: great color, California provenance,
matching numbers, 4-sp pistol grip, zads of
options and all baptized by Pastor Galen.
The final bid would have been a market
high, but apparently, the seller wanted to
make a louder statement.
AMERICANA
#S640-1935 REO 6AP resto-mod pickup.
VIN: 6AP436. Gray & black/gray fabric/black
SOLD AT $74,800. With six factory “deletes,”
this street-legal race car is a prime
example of the expression “less is more.”
Expensive price, but with a restoration of
this caliber and the original blower intact,
the premium paid was worth it. A

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#115-1947 CHEVROLET FLEETMASTER
2-dr sedan. VIN: EAA134774. Blue metallic/
blue vinyl. Odo: 5,984 miles. 350-ci fuelinjected
V8, auto. Blue metallic paint shows
minor flaws from use, gloppy silicone beading
around windshield where stainless once
lived. Lowered stance, shaved doors,
18-inch Foose alloys for a lowrider vibe.
New chrome grille and bumpers, original
hood ornament pitted, plastic crazed, right
aftermarket outside mirror glass missing.
Interior redone in economy blue vinyl, tilt
wheel. Modern fuse box, wiring, heater and
a/c. Clean underhood, TBI Chevy 350 has
chrome dressings, painted splash shields.
Runs well. Cond: 3.
Buick here. US Auctioneers, Friesland,
WI, 07/13.
#320-1953 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup.
VIN: VMV61237CA. Yellow/brown vinyl.
Odo: 87,283 miles. 216-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp.
Paint okay for a driver, but was done with
the pickup assembled. Lots of overspray on
chassis and between bed and cab. Bed
wood incorrectly configured and missing
metal retaining strips. Chrome scratched.
Interior clean and spartan, as per factory,
and engine compartment has seen some
detailing but does show its miles. Fitted with
new traction tires in the rear. Interior, glass,
and muffler all claimed new. Cond: 4.
minum radiator, shorty headers, stainless
2.5-inch MagnaFlow dual exhaust. Flaming
River rack and pinion, power front disc
brakes, drums rear. Announced as $56k
build, and believable. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $37,325. This freshly built show
car would be the stuff of teenage dreams
back in the day. It looked, sounded and sat
right on polished deep-dish Eagle alloys. No
information was provided on builder or its
Chevy V8 power, but this crowd didn’t seem
to care. Bidding was spirited, and the last
one standing obtained a show car well
under build cost. Well bought, deftly sold,
and top sale of the day. Silver Auctions,
Shelton, WA, 08/13.
SOLD AT $17,280. I’ve often commented
here that originality brings the money. A
restored 1948 Fleetwood received a $30k
restoration and sold for $14k in April at
Classic Motorcar Auctions’ sale in Novi, MI
(ACC# 216249). With Mitch Silver pushing
hard from the podium, this custom proved to
be an exception to the rule. Bidding crept
past my estimated value, and both parties
involved seemed pleased with the result.
Silver Auctions, Shelton, WA, 08/13.
#85-1952 BUICK SUPER 56C convertible.
VIN: 66496495. Light green/
black cloth/green leather. Odo: 1,822 miles.
263-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Older acceptable repaint.
Door fit is not great. Economy glue-on
replacement door seals. Top frame sags
low in the middle, so door glass doesn’t seal
flush at the top. Good replate of the larger
chrome bits. The top shows some light
weathering. Better-quality seat redo, but
with non-stock generic pleats. Tidy and
clean under the hood, but not finished
purely stock. Optional Dynaflow automatic
and power windows. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$23,100. 1952 was the last year for the inline
eight in the Super and Roadmaster.
SOLD AT $13,800. And here we have a
good example of the continuing boom in
truck prices. No two ways about it—this
truck was needy. But these things are in
demand, and I’m sure it came down to two
bidders who simply had to have this one. It’ll
take a lot of work to make this worth any
more money than was spent here, but then
again, it’ll probably run forever in this
condition if the new owner just drives it.
Well sold. B&T Specialty Classic Car
Auctions, Reno, NV, 08/13.
#107-1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
hard top. VIN: C55S107790. Dark blue &
white/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 503 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Show-quality paint
on perfect panels. Ditto gaps, chrome,
stainless and new tinted glass. Interior new
in blue and white vinyl. Driver’s window
crank noticed on grass under door. Two
knee-knocker gauges under steering column.
Full dress underhood with ’50s Caddy
air cleaner, dual-circuit master cylinder, alu-
#135-1957 CHEVROLET 150 wagon. VIN:
A570107500. Black & white/black & gray
cloth. Odo: 86,871 miles. 350-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. Above-average paint. Nose-high
stance, per “gasser” straight-axle, dual hood
scoops. New Kelly tires on alloys. Excellent
glass and brightwork. Light waves in right
body panels. Interior clean with a/c. Dual
bench seats and no roll bar imply street
intentions. Engine clean, dual Holley 4-bbls
on Edelbrock cross-over manifold through
hood, aluminum radiator. Lake pipes dump
behind front wheels. No engine specs
This was perhaps the best buy on a Buick
convertible here, even if it wasn’t the best
November-December 2013 101
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provided. Dual tailpipe colors read rich. Just
the thing for burnouts leaving Safeway.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,660. A periodcorrect
“Black Widow” wagon for the family
man. Few moms would want to drive this for
groceries, but I know a few dads who would.
And the rear bench would hold child seats.
That may be what’s going to happen, as the
grinning buyer seemed to have more than
the car on his mind. Price paid was marketcorrect,
as determined by the bidders.
Buyer and seller came out even. Silver
Auctions, Shelton, WA, 08/13.
#23-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS
coupe. VIN: 124379L501175. Rallye Green/
white vinyl/white & black houndstooth vinyl.
Odo: 9,909 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said
to be one of 311 L89 Camaros in 1969. Real
RS/SS, per Protect-O-Plate. Gaps variable;
doors sag 1/4-inch when opened. Bright
green paint very nicely done; may have a bit
too much metal-flake. Vinyl top and houndstooth
seat covers could be original; white
material with very light cast bordering on
dingy. Panels covering interior A-pillars
poorly fit. Sold at no reserve. Cond: 2.
style, not for its substance. They do have a
great look, but what seems like a simple car
takes a keen attention to detail to do well.
This example was “a car,” refurbished to “a
standard.” The $60k–$90k estimate seemed
strong, but it sold just inside the range. Well
sold. Bonhams, Carmel, CA, 08/13.
#380-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 30867S116475. Ermine
White/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 54,232
miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent
repaint with no visible body seams. Panel
gaps better than most. No-hit front, chrome
bumpers show some scratching. Fitted with
power windows but no power steering or
power brakes. Engine compartment generally
stock aside from modern hose clamps
and glossy coating on exhaust manifolds.
Intake stained from carburetor fuel leaks.
Interior worn but looks stock. Complete
three-year restoration completed in 1997.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $110,000. It isn’t easy being
green, and this car was REALLY green. I
don’t remember this color being so bright in
period; the modern clearcoat or metal flake
may be to blame. That aside, this car was
nicely done and with the mighty 396/375
L89 under the hood could dispatch most
anyone snickering at the stoplight. Pre-sale
low estimate of $160k looked quite ambitious;
at that kind of dough you could have
yourself a LS6 Chevelle, snicker with impunity,
and still have money left over. Sale
price was closer to reality. Well sold. (See
the profile, p. 44.) Gooding & Co., Pebble
Beach, CA, 08/13.
CORVETTE
#192-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. VIN: 0792086F54YG. Polo White/
beige canvas/Sportsman Red vinyl. Odo:
1,942 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto.
Very good panel fit, per build. Uneven hood
gaps, beyond original build. Presentable
paint shows some small areas of touch-up
and spots of blow-in. Seats are very good,
although some bagginess is visible on the
left cushion. Instruments are faded, speedometer
glass is very crazed and bright trim
is pitted. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $66,000. As
when new, the C1 is bought today for its
102 AmericanCarCollector.com
the buyer got a great deal. Well bought.
Mecum Auctions, Champaign, IL, 06/13.
#S67-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194677S100007. Rally Red/
white vinyl/black leather. Odo: 52,614 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Unrestored,
all original. Base engine could use some
detailing. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $90,950. Previously sold at
Mecum’s 2010 sale in Canal Winchester,
OH, for $65k, which we called a “fair price”
(ACC# 168119). Offered here with Lot
S67.1 as a pair, but after bidding for the two
did not reach the reserve, the cars were
split into different auctions and found bigger
money. Well sold. Mecum Auctions,
Champaign, IL, 06/13.
SOLD AT $51,000. Auctioned for charity,
with 100% of the proceeds going to the
Wounded Warrior Project. A driver-level
midyear that looked pretty solid throughout.
The older resto was holding up pretty well,
but it wasn’t so nice as to limit how much
you’d use it. A solid price for a solid firstyear
Sting Ray convertible. B&T Specialty
Classic Car Auctions, Reno, NV, 08/13.
#S56-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S123177.
Nassau Blue/blue hard top/white cloth soft
top/black vinyl. Odo: 10,180 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Solid, original, twoowner
car. Nice restoration with excellent
attention to detail. Nice color combo. Also
has the optional hard top. Four-speed manual
is icing on the cake. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$50,825. This was a very nice restoration of
a very nice original car. It sold for $48k at
Mecum KC in April (ACC# 224968). Considering
transport costs and auction premiums,
the seller probably barely broke even, but
#S67.1-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194377S103363. Rally Red/
black leather. Odo: 32,230 miles. 327-ci
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Offered as a pair
with Lot S67, a red 1967 convertible.
All-original, low-mileage. Engine could use
some minor detailing. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $107,000. First offered with Lot
S67, the Rally Red low-mileage convertible.
As a pair, the bidding reached $160k, which
wasn’t enough. Offered separately, prices
totaled $198k, and this car was was the top
sale of the day. Well sold. Mecum Auctions,
Champaign, IL, 06/13.
FOMOCO
7
#132-1932 FORD HIGHBOY roadster.
VIN: 1874450. Dark red/beige
canvas/tan leather. Odo: 792 miles. The
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Walker Morrison Roadster. Perfect paint,
gaps, chrome, interior. Second in Class,
2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Extensive period California lakes history,
published in period. Subject of major feature
in The Rodder’s Journal. Cond: 1.
#156-1946 FORD DELUXE convertible.
VIN: 1199788. Maroon/white vinyl/maroon
vinyl. Odo: 12,599 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl,
3-sp. Very nice repaint in original color,
unusual custom white vinyl tonneau covers
back seat. Louvered hood, no outside
mirrors or windshield wipers. Factory gaps,
driver’s door sits out. Brightwork and glass
excellent. Steel wheels, very good original
hubcaps. Interior mimics original leather in
maroon vinyl. Dash sharp, instruments
clear. Steering gear ultra-loose. Underhood
dusty and stock, save for 24 chrome
acorn-head bolt covers. Honest car with eye
appeal. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $225,000. The ’32 Ford is the
hot-rodder’s Bugatti Type 57. In a world of
brand-new fiberglass instant cars, the realdeal
period metal is truly prized. This is one
such car, built in 1951 by Walker Morrison,
one of the genre’s geniuses. Spectacularly
restored, but too perfect by a margin of two.
I honestly think it would have brought more
if it weren’t so perfect. Well bought. Bonhams,
Carmel, CA, 08/13.
K4767. Dark blue/tan canvas/blue leather.
Odo: 10,685 miles. One of 25 Dietrich 281
KBs built in 1934. Restored in 1996 by
Mosier Restoration to very high standard.
Partly disassembled for blue respray in
2006. Some small chips from use. Edges of
yellow-painted accent lines not crisp.
Chrome, trim all very nice. Doors shut with
authority. Canvas-covered trunk matches
convertible top. Whitewalls a bit soiled, left
front with big black scuff. Interior leather
lovely; front seatback with roll-up divider
window. Engine enlarged with custom
crankshaft to 455 ci, 220 hp. Cond: 1-.
5
#129-1934 LINCOLN KB convertible
sedan. VIN: KB3444. Eng. #
year restoration ensued. Very well presented,
but as it has no actual period
history, the estimate range was a bit high.
Bidding was realistic based on rarity and the
restoration quality. Bonhams, Carmel, CA,
08/13.
#160-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR convertible.
VIN: 8T03R20606002559. Raven
Black/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 32,098
miles. 428-ci V8, 4 bbl, auto. A quality
respray with original interior. Dash signed
by Carroll Shelby. One of only 517 built.
Fitted with Shelby 10-spoke aluminum
wheels. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $35,770. Every time I see one of
these, I remember my aunt Betty who drove
a ’48. This ’46 had less chrome by comparison
and a hint of mild custom with the louvered
hood and half tonneau. Not seen was
a matching white convertible top of unknown
condition. Obtained just below midmarket
retail, it’ll be interesting to see if the
new owner continues the mild custom vibe
by adding modern sparkly rims. Well bought
and sold. Silver Auctions, Shelton, WA,
08/13.
#165-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 R-code
factory lightweight 2-dr hard top. VIN:
3N66R144637. Corinthian White/red vinyl.
Odo: 22 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Homologation special, built to qualify the
Galaxie for FIA competition. Lighter frames,
twin Holley 4-bbl carbs, thin-line bucket
seats, extensive materials lightening including
aluminum bumpers. Good panel fit, as
per factory. Very good paint. Good chrome
shows some fading. Generally very good
interior shows some areas of wear and
SOLD AT $140,250. The Shelby GT500 KR
was the “King of the Road” with an underrated
335-horsepower 428 Cobra Jet under
the hood. This was a very strong example
of a desirable muscle car, but the money
was just not there. Shelby Mustangs have
been off their high of a few years back, and
this continues the trend. RM Auctions,
Monterey, CA, 08/13.
MOPAR
#103-1941 DODGE CANOPY EXPRESS
pickup. VIN: 81194934. Green & black/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 6,854 miles.
Paint recently touched up, presents very
well. Minimal exterior brightwork shows well.
Canopy top looks to be in excellent shape.
Fresh bed wood with new stainless strips.
Nicely detailed engine compartment.
Painted wheels sport caps and beauty
rings. Basic interior looks great with added
passenger’s seat. Fitted with fog lights and
windshield-post spotlight. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $275,000. There was a lot to like
about this car, including the handsome
Dietrich design and engine upgrade, which
should make touring quite pleasant. Lincolns
sometimes don’t get the respect they
deserve, and I think they are good values. A
no-sale across the block against a high bid
of $240k; deal was done at a market-correct
price, with possibility for upside in future.
Realistically bought and sold. Gooding &
Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 08/13.
104 AmericanCarCollector.com
casual refurbishment. Cond: 2-. NOT
SOLD AT $135,000. A genuine factory
lightweight R-code car, which was missing
its engine when found seven years ago. A
correct-type engine was sourced and a six-
SOLD AT $29,700. Once a common sight
with fruit and vegetable hawkers rolling
through neighborhoods in larger cities, this
pre-war truck presented very well. Offered
without reserve and coming in a bit south of
the $35k low estimate, there’s not much out
there to compare it with, but based on condition
and price, looks like a decent buy. RM
Auctions, Plymouth, MI, 07/13.
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#148-1961 IMPERIAL CROWN convertible.
VIN: 9214109309. Dubonnet Maroon/
white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 9,501 miles.
413-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint shows some
chips, dings and dents. Color takes some
getting used to. Decent exterior brightwork.
Nice convertible top, clear glass. Well-presented
engine compartment. Gleaming
chrome wires and wide whites. Interior looks
great. Equipped with power steering,
brakes, front seats and factory a/c. One of
429 convertibles built in 1961. Cond: 3.
AMERICANA
3
Pea green & black/black canvas/black
leather. Odo: 15,423 miles. Ex-Richard
Paine, ex-Matt Browning. One of nine
remaining. Restoration started by previous
owner; updated by marque specialist Bob
Mosier for current owner. More detailed
work and freshening done over past 10
years. Second in Class at Pebble Beach in
2010. Paint excellent; brightwork very good.
Painted grille. Upper and lower rim of
“Liberty Lens” headlights mimics shape of
traditional Packard grille. Lights still
acetylene-fed, as is primer for Packard
carburetor. Cond: 1-.
#115-1914 PACKARD I-38 phaeton.
VIN: 39441. Eng. # 39441.
SOLD AT $148,500. The catalog claimed a
Best in Show at Imperial Statewide Meet in
2008 and other awards prior to acquisition
by the Kughns at RM Meadow Brook in July
2010 at a price of $81k in 3- condition
(ACC# 166302). Here, it blew away the high
estimate, but where are you going to find
another one? I’d chalk it up as well sold, but
I also think this could be where the market
is headed for Imperial convertibles of similar
quality. RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI,
07/13.
#90-1978 PLYMOUTH VOLARE Super
Coupe 2-dr sedan. VIN: HL29L8B250843.
Brown & black/black vinyl. Odo: 12,837
miles. 360-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of 494
Super Coupes produced for 1978. Came
fitted with extra-wide 15x8 wheels, heavyduty
suspension with rear sway bar, fender
flares, front and rear spoilers, rear window
louvers, tri-color stripes, and matte black
trim, grille, bumper, hood and roof. Looks
original but has been given a modest restoration.
Claimed to be the fastest American
production car from 1978. Cond: 4+.
interior reupholstery work. Overspray on the
dry-rotted rubber shift boot. Flash rust on
the door-sill trim. Tidy but hardly detailed
under the hood. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$28,350. The easiest way to tell a basemodel
Special from a Deluxe series is the
former will have only one windshield wiper
while the latter will have two. Regardless of
series, any ’35 Hudson is pretty rare
today—especially for a Canadian-built
example such as this one, as denoted by
the “C” in the serial number—and the selling
price seems to have been nothing to complain
about for anyone. US Auctioneers,
Friesland, WI, 07/13.
#19-1939 DIAMOND T 614C dump truck.
VIN: 614C0010. Yellow/black vinyl. Odo:
83,989 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 5-sp. Sold
new to the Winnebago County, IA, highway
department. Repainted in recent years,
covering pretty much everything. Weathered
gauges difficult to read. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $467,500. It’s always amazing to
see how big some cars were in the early
years of motoring. This car had a magnificent
presence, and it must has been imposing
to Model T drivers; and the Model 38
was the lowest-cost Packard offered in
1914. This car was sold to the current
owner, in #1- condition, in 2000 by
Christie’s at their Pebble Beach auction for
$171k, which our man on the scene called
“fairly bought” (ACC# 10222). There are
plenty of similar Packard sales going back
over 10 years for $300k or more, so this
looks strong but market-correct. Gooding &
Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 08/13.
#107-1935 HUDSON SPECIAL EIGHT 2-dr
coupe. VIN: 54C361. Light green metallic/
beige cloth. Odo: 90,903 miles. Titled as a
1934 model. Presentable, minimally intensive
older restoration. Good body prep and
repaint. Most of the chrome has been
replated. Fitted with modern clamp-on door
frame rear-view mirrors and front turn
signals from a 1970s-era motorcycle. Rear
continental-style spare tire. Doors sag, so
they don’t close all that well. Excellent full
SOLD AT $4,000. Pretty rare and very
cool—for a Volare. A good example of lastgasp
muscle from the Malaise Era. It was a
little rough around the edges, but it looked
solid, and it’s pretty hard to argue with the
price, although I don’t know that there’s a
whole lot of upside here without doing a
bunch of work. Fair deal for an interesting
driver. B&T Specialty Classic Car
Auctions, Reno, NV, 08/13.
106 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $6,300. I originally thought that
this was an open-pit-mine truck, but it does
make sense as a county highway unit,
where it would make frequent stops. Proof
that not all Diamond Ts were glamour rigs,
and priced accordingly. US Auctioneers,
Friesland, WI, 07/13.
#107-1941 STUDEBAKER COMMANDER
sedan. VIN: H141172. Two-tone blue &
green/blue & gray velour & vinyl. Odo:
51,544 miles. Paint shows minor cracking,
prep issues and chips around the hood.
Exterior brightwork looks to be in excellent
condition. Steel wheels painted red with
wide whitewalls, caps and beauty rings look
really good. Engine compartment shows
very well. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $29,700. From the collection of
Richard and Linda Kughn, who acquired the
car from the Art Astor Collection at RM’s
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Meadow Brook auction in July of 2010 for
$21k (ACC# 165554). Having done about
seven miles since, not a bad return on a
three-year investment. Fair deal all around.
RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI, 07/13.
#45-1954 AUTOCAR DC100TN sleeper
semi tractor. VIN: DC100TN39997. Red/
maroon cloth. Odo: 1 miles. Repowered
with a circa-1980 Cummins NTC-350,
retaining the original 5-speed main box and
3-speed auxiliary transmissions plus
35,000-pound rear axle. Restored in past
five years, minimal wear since. Good prep
and paint application on cab and frame.
Minimal chrome has all been replated.
Modern single-stack stainless-steel exhaust.
Clean installation under the hood, lightly
detailed. Modern air ride seats; worn
original steering wheel; interior otherwise
authentically restored. Cond: 2-.
Since figuring the value of six-legged dogs
like this boils down to what someone will
pay, this all-no-reserve auction with online
bidding truly set the (extremely limited) market
here. US Auctioneers, Friesland, WI,
07/13.
#112-1958 PACKARD HAWK coupe. VIN:
58LS1537. Apache Red & Arctic White/
saddle vinyl. Odo: 46,854 miles. 289-ci
supercharged V8, auto. Paint done to good
quality. Excellent exterior brightwork,
although the right rear-view mirror is missing
the center trim plastic insert. Well-presented
engine compartment. Steel wheels
with full wheel covers and wide whites look
great. Nothing to gripe about inside. From
the Kughn Collection. Cond: 3+.
intents and purposes, it’s a 1966 cab (a
White-supplied unit, since they owned Diamond
T by then) perched on a 1984 semi.
Actually, that would’ve been easier than
retrofitting the whole powertrain and suspension
onto the original frame. However,
this kind of thing doesn’t bother old-truck
guys as much as it would old-car purists—
this way they can put it to work if need be.
Pricing in the range of a modern used work
truck is about right. US Auctioneers,
Friesland, WI, 07/13.
#21-1967 INTERNATIONAL R-190
dump truck. VIN: 211911G279398.
Omaha Orange/tan vinyl. Odo: 42,318
miles. 450-ci I6, 2-bbl, 5-sp. Miles claimed
actual since new. Repainted within past few
years, with some hurried masking. Very
solid door fit. Excellent original trim with no
pitting. Recent topical chassis repaint.
Maintained and cleaned up under the hood.
Good original seats with compacted
padding on driver’s side. Moderate
steering-wheel paint wear. Runs out quite
well. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $41,475. Autocar (of Ardmore,
PA) has something of a cult following with
East Coast truck collectors. This was easily
the finest restoration here, car or truck.
Intensely bid between a museum and a
collector beyond $30k, finally selling to the
collector. You still couldn’t restore it for this.
US Auctioneers, Friesland, WI, 07/13.
#35-1957 DIAMOND T 730C tilt COE
truck. VIN: 730C0500. Red/maroon vinyl.
450-ci I6, 2-bbl, manual. Originally built with
just an International Red Diamond 450
inline 6-cylinder gas engine. In the mid-’60s,
a 300-ci Buick V8 was added ahead of the
Red Diamond, with air controls to connect
and disconnect to the front of the 450’s
crankshaft. And yes, it works. With the
forward engine cowling popped off, the cab
even still tilts. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $88,000. Blowing away the
$50k–$70k pre-sale estimate put this one in
the well-sold column. The car was driven
16 miles since it last sold at RM Meadow
Brook 2010 for $51k, which we called “well
bought” (ACC# 166080). Nothing wrong
with 42% appreciation in three years. RM
Auctions, Plymouth, MI, 07/13.
#39-1966 DIAMOND T 931BR semi tractor.
VIN: 563621. Red/gray & maroon cloth.
Odo: 19,381 miles. 855-ci turbocharged I6,
manual. Powertrain components sourced
from a 1984 Peterbilt include a Big Cam III
Cummins engine with “Jake brake,”
13-speed Roadranger transmission, twinscrew
rear end with Peterbilt air ride, air-ride
cab, hydraulic power steering, air-ride seats,
a/c and 24.5-inch Alcoa wheels. Decent
repaint in owner’s fleet livery, done about a
decade ago when the truck was rebuilt.
Indicated miles are likely since the rebuild,
based on chassis soiling and overall wear.
Runs out quite well. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $5,250. In the 1930s, tests determined
this shade of orange was the color
that would grab a driver’s attention the
quickest against a sky-blue background.
The reason for the name? The tests were
conducted in Omaha, NE. Try buying any
vehicle with 42k miles on it for $5,250. Flatout,
the best buy of the day. US Auctioneers,
Friesland, WI, 07/13. A
Sports Car Market
SUBSCRIBE TO SCM
Keith Martin’s
The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
™
SOLD AT $10,500. One of two identical
trucks done up like this in the mid-1960s by
a grain hauler from Illinois whose son
wanted a truck with more power because he
was tired of getting passed by everyone. It
worked so well that he built one for himself.
SOLD AT $19,950. If there was a “restomod”
truck here, this would be it. For all
SportsCarMarket.com/subscribe
November-December 2013 107
877.219.2605 Ext. 1
BEST
BUY

Page 106

The Parts Hunter
Chad Tyson
Big-money parts and
accessories from around the country
run on propane. Magnetos were removed, cleaned and tested for spark voltage. 24V starter.
We hooked up the starter and cranked with no fuel. Engine generated 30 psi oil pressure.
Runs silky smooth. I am asking less than the cost to rebuild this engine.” Buy It Now. Sold
at $12,000.
All-aluminum, 32-valve, DOHC V8—sounds like a modern performance engine. The Ford
GAA engine originated from an aircraft engine and earned an explosive reputation. Direct
hits on the gasoline-powered M4 tank led soldiers to nickname it “the Burning Grave” and
“Tommycooker.” But the 18-liter engines generate 450 hp at 2,600 rpm, so it makes sense
this block eventually worked in agriculture. As for the price? Well sold.
# 390636368422—Ford GAA
Sherman Tank M7 Priest M4
Engine. 4 photos. Item condition:
Remanufactured. eBay, Prior
Lake, MN.
“This is a rebuilt Ford GAA
Sherman tank engine. It came
out of an irrigation company,
hence the stand and hand clutch.
We have bore-scoped each
cylinder for verification of rebuild
and have found all the original
cross-hatching still in the cylinder
walls. This engine was set up to
Jeep truck or wagon. Koenig Model 100 PTO winch, Koenig Model 41
PTO unit, shaft with universals at each end, and main support bearing,
original Koenig winch bumper in great shape and vinyl winch cover. This
came off a 1956 Willys Jeep 6-226 4WD truck. Was working fine when
removed. I have a copy of an original Koenig instruction sheet for installation
which I’ll include as well; interesting reading if nothing else.” Buy It
Now. Sold at $1,200.
It isn’t quite plug-and-play looking at the U-joints. But a light reconditioning
will make this setup ready to get up and go. Piecemealing this set
might result in a cheaper price, but time is worth something, right? Fair
deal for both parties.
# 181185556237—Willys
Complete Koenig PTO
Winch Setup. 12 photos.
Item condition: Used. eBay,
Gloucester, MA.
“You are bidding on a
complete Koenig Iron Works
PTO winch setup for a 1950s
through early 1960s Willys
# 400501162844—GM Thermometer.
4 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay,
Vintondale, PA.
This is a NOS piece. I believe this is from
the 1930–40s.I found this at the estate sale
of a 93-year-old gentleman who collected
older cars. I couldn’t find another one on
eBay like it. A great piece to add to your
vintage car or car memorabilia collection.”
18 bids. Sold at $2,551.09.
A “great piece” is right—you’ll be the only
person with one. I haven’t ever heard of
this thing and neither has the Internet. But
the bidder had to have the thermometer,
as bidding spiked from $500 to $2,550 in
the last six hours of the auction. They paid
whatever they needed to, so no one can
say they got a bargain.
Autolite inline 4-barrel carburetor. It is brand-new, taken out of
the box for pictures only. The carburetor number is DOZX 9510
B. They were used on the Boss 302s. The shipping date on the
carburetor is 9/28/1972. These carbs were rare in the 1970s, so
if you need one for your Boss 302 or any other application, this is
an eye-catcher, plus they work. They flow 1425 cfm.” 3 bids. Sold
at $2,550.
I can’t imagine tuning this carb. 1,400-plus cfm from the B model
(as opposed to the 875-cfm A model) is a lot of air/fuel for a 302.
The linkage isn’t progressive, so all butterflies open at once. On
or off is what you get. That said, this is a fair price paid for a newin-box
inline Autolite.
# 141001970070—Ford
Mustang Boss
302 Inline Autolite
Carburetor. 8 photos.
Item condition: NOS.
eBay, Macomb, MI.
“This auction is for one
# 171071249345—Hurst 14x6 Wheels. 6 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Muncie, IN.
“This auction is for a complete set of original Hurst wheels. Also included are 20 lug nuts
and the spring steel clips that hold on the chrome beauty rings. At some point in the life
of these wheels, a lug nut became hard to remove, and some yo-yo beat in the nut with a
chisel and put some marks in the one wheel. Note the three-bar spinners. I am told these
were nicknamed “Gladiator Spinners” and that they are rare.” 11 bids. Sold at $3,150.
These are sure to set off any late-’60s GM ride, but they are on the small side for today’s
standards. Best destined for an unrestored or restored-to-stock muscle car. Fair price, especially
since the only damage visible is noted and the included spinners are in remarkable
shape.A
108 AmericanCarCollector.com
“I have up for
bid a vintage
General
Motors (GM)
outside door
thermometer.

RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 211,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Auction Companies
Auctions America, 877.906.2437,
5540 CR llA Auburn, IN 46706.
Home of the 480-acre Auction
Park in Auburn, IN, where the
annual Labor Day Auction is held
in conjunction with the Auburn
Cord Duesenberg Festival.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
Worldwide Auctioneers.
866.273.6394. Established by
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group—Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers—is one
of the world’s premier auction
houses, specializing in the
procurement and sale of the
world’s finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft. www.
worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN)
Classic Car Transport
Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942,
Join Leake Auction Company as
they celebrate 40 years in the collector
car auction industry. Their
unsurpassed customer service
and fast-paced two-lane auction
ring makes them a leader in the
business. Leake currently operates
auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma
City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit
them online at www.leakecar.com
or call 800.722.9942.
L.A. Prep. 562.997.0170, L.A.
Prep brings its 30 years of experience
transporting vehicles for the
automotive industry’s top manufacturers
to discriminating luxury
and exotic car owners and collectors
across the United States.
Its highly-skilled and experienced
staff delivers an unsurpassed
level of service and takes care of
your car with the highest quality
equipment available in trucks and
trailers that are as clean and well
maintained as the valuable assets
that they carry.
www.LAPrepTransport.com
Lucky Collector Car Auctions.
888.672.0020, Lucky Collector
Car Auctions is aptly named after
Harold “Lucky” Lemay. Based in
the majestic, pastoral ground of
Marymount, home to the Lemay
Family Collection Foundation
near Tacoma, WA, the collection,
formerly the biggest in the world
according to Guinness, now hosts
an unrivaled event center, art collection
and charitable foundation,
which features two exceptional
collector car auctions a year. www.
luckyoldcar.com (WA)
Mecum Auctions. 262.275.5050,
445 South Main Street, Walworth,
WI 53184. Auctions: Anaheim,
Kissimmee, Kansas City, Houston,
Walworth, Indianapolis, St. Paul,
Bloomington Gold, Des Moines,
Monterey, Dallas, Chicago.
Nobody Sells More Muscle Than
Mecum. Nobody.
www.mecumauction.com. (WI)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
112 AmericanCarCollector.com
Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936,
413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free,
coast-to-coast service. Insured
enclosed transport for your
valuable car at affordable prices.
State-of-the-art satellite transport
tracking. Complete service for
vintage races, auctions, relocations.
www.intercitylines.com. (MA)
largest enclosed-auto transport
company, Reliable Carriers faithfully
serves all 48 contiguous
United States and Canada.
Whether you’ve entered a
concours event, need a relocation,
are attending a corporate event or
shipping the car of your dreams
from one location to another, one
American transportation company
does it all. www.reliablecarriers.
com
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Mid America Motorworks.
800.500.1500. America’s leader in
1953–2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog
at www.mamotorworks.com. (IL)
AutoBahn Power. Performance
+ Looks + Durability + Comfort
= Autobahn Power! Autobahn
Power is a veteran of vehicle
modifications, parts and accessories.
Our specialty has been to
carry products that are better than
original equipment in performance,
safety and quality. Our warehouse,
service shop and retail store are
located in the Midwest for good
access to all parts of the USA. We
have completed literally hundreds
of project cars. These performance
vehicles are in enthusiasts’
hands across the USA. Many of
the cars are in daily use, proving
the durability of our workmanship
and products. Check us out at
www.autobahnpower.com.
Passport Transport.
800.736.0575, Since our founding
in 1970, we have shipped thousands
of treasured vehicles doorto-door
with our fully enclosed
auto transporters. Whether your
prized possession is your daily
driver, a vintage race car, a classic,
a ’60s muscle car or a modern
exotic, you can depend on
Passport Transport to give you the
premium service it deserves. We
share your appreciation for fine
automobiles, and it shows.
www.PassportTransport.com.
for each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com. (MI)
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
The most modern and bestequipped
Corvette-only facility in
the nation.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
The Chevy Store. At The Chevy
Store, you will find only the
highest-grade, investment-quality
Corvette and specialty Chevrolet
automobiles. We take pride in
providing our clients with the finest
selection anywhere. Offering
investment-quality Corvettes and
Chevrolets for over 30 years!
503.256.5384(p) 503.256.4767(f)
www.thechevystore.com. (OR)
Insurance
Chubb Collector Car Insurance.
1.866.CAR.9648, The Chubb
Collector Car Insurance program
provides flexibility by allowing you
to choose the agreed value and
restoration shop. Broad coverage
includes no mileage restrictions
and special pricing for large
schedules. For more information,
contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or
www.chubbcollectorcar.com.
Hagerty Collector Car
Insurance. 800.922.4050.
Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel
counterparts. These classics
actually appreciate in value,
so standard market policies that
cost significantly more won’t do
the job. We’ll agree on a fair value
and cover you for the full amount.
No prorated claims, no hassles, no
games. www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Street Shop, Inc. 256.233.5809.
Custom 1953–1982 Corvette
replacement chassis and driveline
components.
www.streetshopinc.com. (AL)
Reliable Carriers, Inc.
877.744.7889, As the country’s
Corvettes for Sale
Corvette Central. Parts and
accessories for all Corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today
and produce a different catalog
Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE.
For over 25 years, Putnam
Leasing has been the leader in
exotic, luxury, and collector car
leasing. This honor comes from
Putnam’s unique ability to match
the car of your dreams with a
lease designed just for you. Every
Putnam Lease is written to provide
maximum flexibility while conserving
capital, lowering monthly
payments, and maximizing tax
Leasing

Page 111

advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of
letting you drive more car for less
money. For leases ranging from
$50,000 to more than $1 million,
with terms extending up to 84
months visit www.putnamleasing.
com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT)
Legal
Law Offices of Bruce Shaw,
Collector Car Fraud Specialists,
www.shawlaws.com. A motorhead
law firm with real practical
knowledge and experience in the
Collector Car Field. Experience:
Chain of speed shops, Body
Shops, Car Dealerships, former
NCRS judge as well as licensed
attorneys. Estate planning and
divorce settlements concerning
Collector Cars. 50 State
Representation. 215.657.2377
Museums
Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976,
Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR
best source for 1965–present
Mustang, 1965–70 Shelby, and
1967–73 Mercury Cougar Parts.
Call or visit our website to receive
a full-color catalog full of the parts
you need with the best prices in
the industry. With two fully stocked
warehouses, we have the largest
“in stock” selection of parts.
Visit us online at www.mustangsunlimited.com
or join us
on Facebook or Twitter for the
latest buzz in all things Mustang.
Customer Satisfaction is goal #1.
Phone: Connecticut 888.398.9898,
Georgia 888.229.2929.
LeMay Family Collection
Foundation. LeMay Family
Collection Foundation at
Marymount Events Center near
Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic
backdrop for your next event.
Home to 500 fabulous collector
cars, world-class art exhibits, and
assorted ephemera, consider your
next event here. Weddings, swap
meets, conventions, auctions.
The facility can likely exceed your
expectations. Visit during the
37th annual open house along
with 13,000 other enthusiasts.
253.272.2336
www.lemaymarymount.org
National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE.
The National Corvette
Museum in Bowling Green, KY,
was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit
foundation with a mission
of celebrating the invention of the
Corvette and preserving its past,
present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com.
(KY)
Parts—General
Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC.
206.467.6531, Experts in worldwide
acquisition, collection management,
disposition and
appraisal. For more than a quarter
century, Cosmopolitan Motors has
lived by its motto, “We covet the
rare and unusual, whether pedi-
greed or proletarian.” Absurdly
eclectic and proud of it. Find your
treasure here, or pass it along to
the next generation. www.cosmopolitanmotors.com
(WA)
National Parts Depot.
800.874.7585, We stock huge
inventories of concours-correct
restoration parts for:
1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang
1967–81 Camaro & Firebird
1964–72 GTO, Tempest & Lemans
1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu &
El Camino
1948–29 and 1980–96 F-Series
Ford Truck
1966–96 Bronco
1955–57 Thunderbird
Delivery of your parts averages
just 1–3 days!
www.nationalpartsdepot.com
Original Parts Group, Inc. With
over 30 years’ experience, OPGI
manufactures and stocks over
75,000 of the finest restoration parts
and accessories for GM classics at
the best prices anywhere. The largest
selection of Chevelle, El Camino,
Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans,
Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville,
Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS,
Riviera and Cadillac classic parts
anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or
call (800) 243-8355.A
November-December 2013 113

Page 112

Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia on eBay
and beyond
Carl’s thought: And you think your family has problems. Seems Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant would
not give his mom the money to buy the house she wanted in Las Vegas. Goldin Auctions would, however, and they
advanced her $400,000 after she consigned about a hundred items from Kobe’s legendary career. Problem was, the
items were not hers to sell, and Kobe filed suit to stop the event. Mom apologized and the auction was scaled back,
with only six items offered, but it included his ring from the Lakers’ 2000 championship season. Kobe had gifted
the ring to his father, Joe. It realized $174,184, but most of the treasures from Kobe’s early days were retained.
There were no reports if mom got the house she “needed” in Las Vegas.
Here are some other items I found over the past few months that would make most car guys’ “need” list:
EBAY #261253846316—
1920s CALIFORNIA
LICENSE-PLATE FRAME.
Number of bids: 19. SOLD
AT: $615. Date sold:
8/2/2013. This early licenseplate
frame was in exceptional
condition and did not
appear to have ever been used. It had a couple of California Bears
on the top and fit pre-1927 California license plates. Cool accessory
if you have the pre-1927 car and the license plate to complete the
package.
EBAY #330952555911—ROTARY
MOTOR OIL ONE-QUART CAN.
Number of bids: 33. SOLD AT:
$439.50. Date sold: 7/14/2013. Oil
cans have been off their high of a
few years back, but the unusual still
attract serious money. This one was
slightly faded and stained but pictured
an early oil derrick and had the
early soldered side seam. All things
considered, price paid was in line
with the current market.
MATTHEWS IOWA GAS AUCTION LOT 42—GENERAL GASOLINE
SOCONY-VACUUM 42-INCH
PORCELAIN SHIELD-SHAPED
SIGN. SOLD AT: $19,470 (INCLUDING
18% PREMIUM). Date sold:
8/1/2013. This was a transitional sign
that was used when Socony-Vacuum
acquired General Petroleum. The
sign was in exceptional condition,
with no chips or scratches noted. It
was part of a friend’s collection that
was sold at auction and he mentioned
that he had only paid a couple
grand for the sign some years back. Sometimes that dog do hunt!
EBAY# 281126346536—STUTZ EIGHT RADIATOR BADGE.
Number of bids: 18. SOLD AT: $227.07. Date sold: 6/30/2013.
The Stutz Vertical Eight was introduced in 1926, so this radiator
badge dates to that era. It is a colorful badge but not in the best
of condition, as it was missing the mounting cup on the back and
114 AmericanCarCollector.com
was chipped on the lower portion of the
badge. It was made using the champlevé
or guilloche process of bonding melted
colored glass to copper, which was then
plated. A desirable badge, but the condition
was an issue here.
EBAY# 400508052371—HUBLEY “SAY IT WITH FLOWERS”
CAST-IRON MOTORCYCLE. Number of bids: 15. SOLD AT:
$4,302. Date sold:
6/19/2013. This is one
of the more desirable
cast-iron toys and was
in excellent condition
with expected cracking
and hardening of the
rubber tires due to age.
A few years back, this
was a $12,000 toy, so we can see that a good portion of the toy
market is still in a funk.
EBAY# 251311288384—TEXACO MARINE LUBRICANTS PORCELAIN
SIGN. Number of bids: 27. SOLD AT: $5,650. This is a
very desirable and colorful
sign that utilized a number
of different boats and ships
to illustrate uses for Texaco
marine products. It was
made in a couple of different
sizes, and this one was
dated 8-47, although they
were also made in other years. This sign has been reproduced, so
make sure you know what you are doing before dipping into the
kid’s college fund to buy one.
EBAY# 370839854457—“ELIMINATORS” SAN FERNADO CALIFORNIA
HOT-ROD CLUB JACKET.
Number of bids: 7. SOLD AT: $2,550.
Date sold: 65/28/2013. I’d guess this
jacket dated to the ’50s. It was in very
nice condition, with no wear to the satin,
and the design work and chenille chainstitch
lettering were all in good order.
Great piece to display with your period
hot rod, or you can wear it to the next
cruise-in.A